Delhi: Delhi was once again engulfed in a dense blanket of smog on Monday morning, pushing air pollution levels into the ‘severe’ zone and throwing transport services into disarray. Reduced visibility across the city affected both air and rail operations, leaving commuters stranded and authorities on high alert.
By 7 am, the capital’s overall Air Quality Index stood at 402, reflecting hazardous conditions. Data from pollution monitoring stations showed that a majority of locations across the city were recording alarming readings. Out of 40 stations, 25 reported air quality in the ‘severe’ category. Vivek Vihar emerged as one of the worst-hit areas with an AQI of 458, followed closely by Wazirpur at 443, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) identified as the primary pollutant. Pollution data from Lodhi Road and RK Puram stations was unavailable at the time.
The thick smog sharply reduced visibility on roads, forcing motorists to rely on headlights even after sunrise. Areas around Kartavya Path and Dwarka witnessed slow-moving traffic as drivers navigated through near-dark conditions.
Weather officials issued a ‘red’ alert for very dense fog across most parts of the city during the early morning hours. The India Meteorological Department urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, use fog lights while driving and take precautions such as covering their faces to limit exposure.
Air travel was among the worst affected. Visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport dropped to around 125 metres, prompting flight operations to be conducted under CAT III conditions. The airport authority warned passengers of possible delays and cancellations and advised them to stay in touch with airlines for updates.
According to aviation officials, at least 128 flights—comprising both arrivals and departures—were cancelled by mid-morning. Airlines including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and others issued advisories, citing poor visibility not only in Delhi but also at other affected airports such as Kolkata and Jammu, where foggy conditions disrupted flight schedules.
Rail services were also impacted, with more than 100 trains reported to be running behind schedule due to low visibility along several routes connected to the capital.
The smog’s impact extended beyond Delhi. In Agra, the iconic Taj Mahal was barely visible as pollution obscured the skyline, a scene echoed in visuals from other parts of the country, including Mumbai’s Eastern Freeway and regions of Assam.
As pollution levels remain dangerously high, health experts continue to advise residents—especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions—to stay indoors and limit exposure until weather conditions improve.
