Delhi Air Quality Approaches Severe Levels Amid Thick Smog; Airport Issues Advisory

Delhi AQI Nears ‘Severe’ as Smog Reduces Visibility, Airport Issues Advisory.

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Saturday, with the AQI climbing to 387, edging close to the ‘severe’ category after a brief improvement earlier this week. Thick smog and shallow fog shrouded the city in the early hours, prompting low-visibility procedures at Indira Gandhi International Airport, though all flights were operating normally.

Pollution Hotspots Hit Hard

Eighteen areas recorded AQI levels above 400, including Wazirpur (443), Jahangirpuri (439), Vivek Vihar (437), Rohini and Anand Vihar (434 each). Other severely affected localities included Ashok Vihar, Sonia Vihar, DTU, Narela, Bawana, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, ITO, Punjabi Bagh, Mundka, Burari, Chandni Chowk, and North Campus of Delhi University.

NCR Also Severely Polluted

The NCR mirrored Delhi’s crisis, with Ghaziabad and Noida at 422 AQI, Gurugram at 295, and Faridabad at 208. Dense smog combined with shallow fog reduced visibility to around 500 metres in Delhi, affecting commuting and raising health concerns, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.

Weather Traps Pollutants

Experts attributed the pollution spike to low wind speeds, high moisture, and cooler temperatures, which prevented dispersal of pollutants. Delhi has seen warmer-than-usual December temperatures, with minimums around 11°C and maximums near 22°C, due to the absence of western disturbances.

Authorities Take Action

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has formed an expert committee to tackle vehicular pollution, a major contributor to rising PM2.5 and PM10 levels. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities and follow precautions as hazardous air quality persists.