(Image source from: Twitter.com/ANI)
A thick layer of smog continued to blanket Delhi and nearby regions on Monday morning, keeping the air quality in the 'severe' range and making it hard to see, which affected flight schedules. At 6 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital was at 456, as reported on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) website. This marks the second-worst AQI of the season, following Sunday’s reading of 461, which was the second-lowest air quality day recorded. An AQI ranging from zero to 50 is labeled as 'good', from 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', from 101 to 200 as 'moderate', from 201 to 300 as 'poor', from 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and from 401 to 500 as 'severe'.
Footage showed a heavy blanket of harmful air at Akshardham in Delhi, where the AQI reached 493. Other clips highlighted low visibility in various spots, including the Barapulla flyover with an AQI of 433 and Barakhamba Road with an AQI of 474. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an 'orange' alert for thick smog today.
Visibility in the capital was notably decreased due to the dense smog, and FlightRadar24 reported that 110 flights took off late and 37 flights arrived late at Delhi Airport. The airport issued a warning for travelers, stating, "Because of heavy fog, flights may face delays. We are collaborating with all parties involved to lessen passenger difficulties. For real-time flight updates, travelers should reach out to their airlines. We apologize for any troubles this may create," in a message shared on X. IndiGo also provided notice to travelers about flight cancellations and delays.
"Due to heavy fog this morning in Delhi, visibility has dropped significantly, affecting flight schedules. To ensure safety, we might have to cancel some flights throughout the day. We understand this can be frustrating, especially concerning important travel plans. Rest assured, our teams at the airports are working hard to keep everything running smoothly and will keep you updated as the situation changes," the airline mentioned.
In another statement, the airline advised travelers to allocate more time when heading to the airport due to potential slow traffic caused by the smog. Air India mentioned in its statement, "Low visibility from thick fog is disrupting flights in Delhi and surrounding areas in Northern India." The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced on Saturday that it had activated the strictest controls (Stage IV) in its air pollution strategy, known as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This includes halting all construction and demolition work in Delhi-NCR following a noticeable rise in pollution due to poor weather conditions. Additionally, the Delhi government ordered that 50 percent of government and private office employees work from home, while all schools up to Class 11 (excluding Class 10) were instructed to hold classes in a mixed format, offering both in-person and online sessions.
