NEW DELHI: A dense blanket of smog covered Delhi on Saturday morning, pushing the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) to 387, alarmingly close to the ‘severe’ category. Visuals from across the capital showed heavy haze engulfing roads and neighbourhoods, sharply reducing visibility in several areas.
Some locations had already slipped into the ‘severe’ bracket. Anand Vihar and Ghazipur recorded an AQI of 435, Burari Crossing 415, Chandni Chowk 419, Jahangirpuri 442, RK Puram 404 and Rohini 436, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Delhi Airport said flight operations were continuing as scheduled but cautioned that low-visibility procedures were in place. In an advisory, passengers were asked to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates.
CPCB readings showed that most air quality monitoring stations across the city were registering ‘very poor’ levels. Officials attributed the deterioration to low wind speeds, which have trapped pollutants near the surface. Weak western disturbances, they added, are unlikely to provide immediate respite.
The city’s Decision Support System identified vehicular emissions as the biggest contributor to pollution, followed by industrial sources. Pollution inflow from neighbouring districts such as Jhajjar and Sonipat has also added to Delhi’s worsening air.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast slightly warmer conditions over the weekend, with minimum temperatures hovering between 10 and 12°C and maximums around 23 to 25°C. Moderate fog is expected to persist, potentially further degrading air quality. Authorities have advised residents to minimise outdoor activities and adhere to health advisories as Delhi confronts yet another bout of winter smog.
