A thick blanket of smog has enveloped Delhi and its neighboring areas, pushing air quality into the ‘severe’ category on Monday morning. As of 6 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) for the national capital was recorded at 456, marking the season’s second-worst air quality levels, closely following Sunday’s reading of 461. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI of 401 to 500 is classified as ‘severe,’ posing significant health risks.
Visuals captured from prominent locations like Akshardham showed an AQI soaring to 493, while other areas, including the Barapulla flyover and Barakhamba Road, recorded levels of 433 and 474, respectively. This worsening air quality contributed to reduced visibility across the region, affecting air travel and daily commuter operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert due to the dense smog. As a direct impact, flight operations at Delhi Airport faced significant disruptions, with over 100 flights canceled and more than 300 delayed. The airport authorities have urged passengers to stay in touch with airlines for the latest updates and to anticipate delays while traveling to the airport.
Both IndiGo and Air India have communicated the effects of the fog on their operations, with IndiGo cautioning that safety protocols may lead to proactive flight cancellations throughout the day. The airline emphasized the importance of allowing extra time for travel to accommodate slower road traffic caused by the hazardous conditions.
Train services in and out of Delhi have also been markedly affected, with over 90 trains reported to be delayed by six to seven hours due to the low visibility.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had initiated stringent measures under its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which included a ban on construction activities in the Delhi-NCR region in response to the alarming pollution levels. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has mandated that 50% of employees in both government and private sectors work from home. Schools up to Class 11 have been instructed to switch to a hybrid model, facilitating both physical and online classes, to safeguard students’ health amid the adverse air quality conditions.
As the situation continues to unfold, city officials and agencies remain vigilant in addressing the air quality crisis and its implications on public health and transportation. Despite these challenges, there is hope that swift governmental actions and public cooperation will pave the way towards cleaner air and improved conditions in the near future.