NEW DELHI: A thick layer of smog covered large parts of Delhi-NCR on Sunday. According to real-time readings from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Air quality index (AQI) values remained in the “very poor” to “severe” category at several locations.
India Gate and Kartavya Path recorded an AQI of ‘381’ while Anand Vihar and Ghazipur reached ‘438’. At the ITO, the AQI was “405” on Sunday morning.According to AQI categorization, 0-50 is “good”, 51-100 is “satisfactory”, 101-200 is “moderate”, 201-300 is “poor”, 301-400 is “very poor” and 401-500 is “severe”. Footage shared from India Gate, ITO and Ghazipur showed thick gray smog, reducing visibility. The haze stretched across the main arteries, including near the Kartavya path.The Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) had activated all measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR, reserved for the most serious air pollution episodes.According to PTI, several flights and trains were delayed on Sunday due to dense fog.
IMD issues orange alert
IMD scientist RK Jenamani said the winds failed to lift the fog layer and temperatures remained low. “Similar conditions prevailed in December 2019 when the maximum temperature dropped sharply on December 17 and 18,” he said.The IMD has issued an orange warning for parts of the capital for Sunday, warning of dense to very dense fog and cold daytime conditions. Visibility is expected to remain low in the early hours of the morning while the maximum temperature is expected to remain between 16°C and 18°C.The Met classification classifies visibility below 50 meters as “very dense fog,” 50-200 meters as “dense fog,” and 200-500 meters as “moderate fog.”Minimum temperatures fell to 6.1°C on Saturday, two degrees below normal. Nighttime temperatures are expected to be between 7°C and 9°C until Sunday.
IndiGo gives advice
“Early morning fog is expected to affect visibility across Delhi and parts of north India. During these hours, visibility may suddenly decrease and impact flight operations https://bit.ly/3ZWAQXd. If your flight is affected, you can conveniently choose another option or request a refund via https://goindigo.in/plan-b.html. We remain vigilant and will do everything we can to ensure your trip goes smoothly. “Thank you for your patience and understanding,” the airline said in a statement.
Flight delays and cancellations
Over 500 flights were delayed and 138 were canceled at Delhi airport on Saturday. Delhi airport initiated measures due to poor visibility in the early hours as conditions deteriorated.On Saturday, Delhi recorded the first ‘cold day’ of the season with maximum temperatures dropping sharply. Safdarjung recorded 16.9°C, five degrees below normal, while Palam recorded 16.3°C. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said both stations met the conditions for declaring a cold day. Visibility fell to 200 meters at Safdarjung from 3 am and remained between 200 and 400 meters for almost 10 hours before there was a marginal improvement.
Regional Disturbances
Dense fog over northern India has affected aviation throughout the week. According to official information, on December 17th there were more than 800 delays and 200 cancellations. On Friday there were over 700 delays and 177 cancellations, including four international connections. Traffic authorities are urging caution when driving on the roads as visibility remains unpredictable late at night and early in the morning. Experts warn that there could be prolonged episodes of dense fog and toxic smog in the winter months as the emissions are accompanied by stagnant, cold air.
