Delhi chokes as AQI stays 'severe'; dense fog disrupts flights and trains

According to data from the CPCB, the overall AQI in the national capital stood at 439 at 7 am.

• Delhi AQI hits 439, remains in 'severe' category with dense fog and cold weather
• GRAP-IV measures enforced, banning non-essential trucks and curbing construction
• Flights, trains delayed; schools switch to hybrid mode due to poor air quality

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Delhi continued to be in the grip of a severe air pollution episode on Sunday, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) staying firmly in the ‘severe’ category, even as dense fog and biting cold reduced visibility to near zero and disrupted air and rail services.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall AQI in the national capital stood at 439 at 7 am. Pollution levels had already worsened overnight, with the AQI recorded at 432 at 10 pm on Saturday before deteriorating further by early morning.

Several monitoring stations across the city reported alarmingly high readings. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 489, Punjabi Bagh 476, Wazirpur 478, Ashok Vihar 463, Chandni Chowk 464, Dwarka Sector 8 469, RK Puram 467, Bawana 467 and ITO 448, all under the ‘severe’ category.

Keeping in view of the hazardous air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reinvoked Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday evening.

“Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and in an effort to prevent further deterioration, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP has unanimously decided to invoke all actions envisaged under Stage-IV of the extant GRAP — ‘Severe+’ Air Quality — with immediate effect across the NCR,” the commission said in an order. The measures are in addition to restrictions already in place under GRAP Stages I, II and III.

Under GRAP-IV, the entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi has been banned, and construction and demolition activities face stricter curbs. Authorities have also directed pollution control boards and enforcement agencies to intensify preventive action.

Adding to the crisis, a thick blanket of dense fog engulfed Delhi and adjoining NCR areas on Sunday morning, sharply reducing visibility across the city. Iconic landmarks such as India Gate and Kartavya Path were shrouded in smog, while areas including the DND Flyway, Akshardham, Barapullah Flyover, and Janpath Road reported near-zero visibility.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said dense fog persisted during the morning hours, with minimum temperatures hovering between 5 and 7 degrees Celsius, up to three degrees below normal. While a cold wave is unlikely over the next four days, the IMD warned that dense fog conditions are expected to continue.

The poor visibility also led to widespread disruption of transport services.

According to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, around 35% of departures and 27% of arrivals at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed. Several airlines issued advisories asking passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport.

Rail services were also hit, with dozens of long-distance trains running late by several hours. Railway officials said delays stretched up to 12 hours on some routes, affecting services to and from eastern and northeastern India.

Residents, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, have been urged to limit outdoor activity and follow health advisories.

In view of the severe pollution levels, classes for school students, except those in Classes 10 and 12, have been shifted to a hybrid mode in Delhi and neighbouring districts such as Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.