New Delhi: Delhi and the National Capital Region were gripped by dense fog and worsening pollution conditions on Monday, as visibility dropped sharply at several locations with the city’s air quality slipping back into the “severe” category and affecting the flight operations serverely.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 402 at 8 am. While the citywide average crossed the 400-mark, a number of monitoring stations reported even higher levels of pollution. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 455, placing it deep in the “severe” category, while Bawana registered 411. Other areas such as Wazirpur (443), Rohini (442), Punjabi Bagh (426) and Patparganj (431) also reported hazardous conditions. A few pockets remained marginally better, though still in the “very poor” range.
The dense fog compounded the impact of pollution, settling across large parts of the capital in the early hours and reducing visibility to near zero in several stretches. Thick layers of fog were reported from Anand Vihar, Dhaula Kuan, Akshardham, Dwarka and along Kartavya Path, with motorists forced to keep headlights and hazard lamps switched on through the morning. The conditions were similar in the neighbouring areas such as Noida, Ghaziabad and parts of Haryana, leading to discomfort among commuters and residents.
Flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport were severely affected. With fluctuating visibility disrupting runway and ground movements, nearly 200 flights were delayed and six were cancelled, affecting thousands of passengers. Data from flight-tracking platforms showed at least 144 delayed departures and 51 delayed arrivals through the day. Airlines issued repeated advisories urging passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport and be prepared for operational disruptions.
IndiGo stated that visibility variations were affecting scheduling and warned that operations at both Delhi and Hindon airports could remain slower than usual. The airline said services would gradually stabilise once conditions improved.
Air India had also alerted travellers on Sunday evening about likely delays due to fog, advising passengers to allow additional travel time.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense to very dense fog conditions over parts of north India during night and early morning hours over the next few days. The weather agency expects fog to persist across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and western Uttar Pradesh until December 31, while eastern Uttar Pradesh may continue to be affected until January 1 before a gradual improvement. For Delhi, the IMD has issued an orange alert for December 29, with the maximum temperature likely to be around 22°C and the minimum near 7°C.
The combination of fog and stagnant winter air has again intensified concerns about winter pollution in the capital. AQI levels above 400 are considered dangerous for all population groups, with health experts generally advising residents to limit prolonged outdoor exposure in such conditions.
Authorities have urged residents and travellers to keep track of weather and air quality updates, while airlines and airport operators continue to monitor operational conditions closely.
