Delhi: Daily life across Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region was thrown off course on Wednesday as thick fog combined with dangerously high pollution levels, sharply reducing visibility and slowing movement on roads, railways, and at the airport.
Large stretches of the capital and neighboring cities woke up under a heavy blanket of fog. Scenes from areas such as Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, the Botanical Garden Metro corridor in Noida, and Delhi’s Akshardham zone showed streets and residential pockets almost obscured from view. Motorists were forced to crawl through traffic, while early commuters in Noida and other NCR towns faced delays and safety concerns due to the poor visibility.
At the same time, air quality across Delhi deteriorated further. Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board showed the city’s average Air Quality Index reaching 384 by 7 am, placing it close to the severe category. Several monitoring stations recorded even worse conditions. Anand Vihar emerged as one of the most polluted spots with an AQI of 452, followed by ITO at 426, RK Puram at 411, Chandni Chowk at 419, and Dwarka Sector 8 at 414. These areas all fell into the ‘severe’ pollution bracket. Other locations, including IGI Airport’s Terminal 3, Najafgarh, and Aya Nagar, reported AQI levels above 320, indicating ‘very poor’ air quality.
Aviation services were among the worst affected. Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were shifted to CAT III mode, a system used during extremely low-visibility conditions. Airport officials confirmed that this led to multiple delays and some cancellations throughout the morning.
In a passenger advisory, Delhi Airport authorities said additional ground staff had been deployed to help manage the situation. Travellers were urged to check directly with airlines for updated flight information before heading to the airport.
“Due to dense fog, flight movements are currently operating under CAT III conditions, which can result in delays or cancellations. Our teams are on the ground to assist passengers, and we regret the inconvenience caused,” the airport said in its statement.
Rail traffic also felt the impact of the weather. Several long-distance and suburban trains were running late as fog slowed operations across northern India. At major railway stations in the capital, passengers were seen waiting for extended periods as departures and arrivals were delayed.
With foggy conditions and severe pollution persisting, authorities have advised residents to limit outdoor exposure, particularly during early morning hours, as weather and air quality continue to pose challenges across the region.
