Delhi smog tightens grip: AQI stays ‘very poor’ at 370; flights delayed as visibility dips

NEW DELHI: Large parts of Delhi were engulfed in a dense layer of toxic smog, sharply reducing visibility and causing discomfort for residents. RK Puram was particularly affected, with an AQI of 374, placing it in the 'very poor' category, according to CPCB data.

Areas around Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium were also blanketed in thick smog, with the AQI reported at 349, again categorised as 'very poor'. Najafgarh recorded a slightly lower AQI of 284, but the area remained shrouded in hazardous haze.





In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked all Stage-IV measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR to rein in pollution.

The smog was not confined to the capital. A thick layer of fog also covered Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, reducing visibility there as well.

For reference, AQI categorisation is as follows: 0-50 ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.



Flight operations under low visibility procedures

The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) issued a passenger advisory on Thursday morning amid dense fog, warning that Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) were in force even as flight operations continued normally. In the travel advisory posted at 4.30 am, airport authorities informed passengers that foggy conditions had reduced visibility levels, prompting the implementation of LVP to ensure safe aircraft operations.

Officials clarified that there was no major disruption to flight services at the airport at the time of the advisory. “Low-visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” the advisory stated. Airport authorities urged travellers to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates on departures and arrivals.


CAQM flags road dust, waste

Earlier this month, CAQM deployed 19 teams for a road-inspection drive on December 12, as part of ongoing monitoring and enforcement under the statutory framework and provisions of GRAP. A total of 136 road stretches within the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) jurisdiction were inspected.

The compiled data showed that 15 stretches had high visible dust levels, 38 had moderate dust, 61 recorded low dust intensity, and 22 stretches showed no visible dust. Accumulation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction & demolition (C&D) waste was observed on 55 and 53 stretches, respectively. Evidence of MSW or biomass burning was reported at six stretches.

“These observations clearly indicate gaps and recurring negligence in the maintenance of the affected stretches,” the release said. It stressed the need for the DDA to enhance operational efficiency and implement prompt corrective measures through consistent and timely dust-mitigation interventions. The agency also needs to improve compliance across all road stretches for MSW and biomass burning.

The commission noted that such incidents significantly impact particulate matter levels in Delhi. It emphasised the need for strengthened on-ground action, including regular mechanical sweeping, timely disposal of collected dust, maintenance of road shoulders and central verges, deployment of water-sprinkling and dust-suppression systems, and focused efforts to prevent open burning across all stretches maintained by the DDA.