“Very Dense Fog Grips Capital,” as Delhi Air Quality Slips Into Severe Zone

New Delhi: Delhi witnessed a sharp return of dense smog on Monday morning as air quality deteriorated to the severe category, severely affecting visibility and transport services across the national capital. The Air Quality Index stood at 402 at around 7 am, signalling hazardous conditions for public health and outdoor activity.
More than half of the city’s air monitoring stations reported severe air quality levels, with 25 out of 40 locations crossing the critical threshold. Vivek Vihar recorded one of the worst readings at 458, driven largely by high PM2.5 concentration. Wazirpur followed closely with an AQI of 443. Data from Lodhi Road and RK Puram monitoring stations was unavailable at the time.
Low visibility caused by thick smog was visible across several parts of the city. Areas around Kartavya Path appeared shrouded in darkness during early morning hours, forcing motorists to rely solely on headlights. Similar conditions were reported from Dwarka, where AQI levels hovered around 400, making driving difficult and unsafe.
The weather department issued a red alert for very dense fog during the early morning hours, warning residents to restrict travel unless absolutely necessary. Advisories urged people to drive cautiously, use fog lights and cover their faces while stepping outdoors.
Transport services were significantly impacted. At the Delhi airport, visibility dropped to nearly 125 metres, forcing flight operations to continue under low visibility procedures. Over 120 flights were cancelled by mid morning, while several others faced delays. Airlines warned passengers of disruptions due to evolving weather conditions at multiple airports, including Delhi and Jammu.
Railway operations also took a hit, with more than 100 trains running behind schedule as fog reduced track visibility across northern regions.
The smoggy conditions extended beyond Delhi. In Agra, the Taj Mahal was barely visible behind a thick haze, underscoring the widespread impact of deteriorating air quality in north India. Similar scenes of reduced visibility were reported from other regions as well.
With pollution levels remaining dangerously high and weather conditions unfavourable, authorities continue to urge caution while residents brace for prolonged disruptions and health risks linked to severe air pollution.