A thick, hazardous blanket of smog and fog descended upon Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday, pushing air quality into the 'severe' zone and severely disrupting air and rail travel. Visibility dropped dramatically across the city as authorities scrambled to implement emergency measures.
Air Quality Plummets to Dangerous Levels
Real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) painted a grim picture, with air quality indices (AQI) firmly lodged in the 'very poor' to 'severe' categories. The situation was particularly alarming at key monitoring stations. Anand Vihar and Ghazipur recorded a 'severe' AQI of 438, while ITO registered 405. The iconic India Gate and Kartavya Path area also suffered, with an AQI reading of 381, classified as 'very poor'.
According to the standard AQI scale, readings between 301-400 are 'very poor', and anything from 401-500 is considered 'severe', posing health risks to all residents. Visuals from across the city showed a dense grey haze obscuring landmarks and reducing visibility on major arterial roads.
Emergency Measures and Travel Chaos
In response to the critical pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated all protocols under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This is the highest level of anti-pollution measures, reserved for the most severe air quality emergencies.
The crisis was compounded by intense fog. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for the capital, warning of dense to very dense fog and cold-day conditions. IMD scientist RK Jenamani noted that stagnant winds failed to lift the fog layer, drawing parallels to a similar cold spell in December 2019.
The combination of smog and fog wreaked havoc on transportation:
- Over 500 flights were delayed and 138 cancelled at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, as per airport data.
- Low-visibility procedures were enforced during early morning hours.
- Multiple train services also experienced significant delays on Sunday.
IndiGo airline issued a passenger advisory, warning of sudden visibility drops and urging travelers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.
Record Cold and a Grim Forecast
The region is also in the grip of a cold wave. Saturday was officially declared the season's first 'cold day', with maximum temperatures plunging five degrees below normal. Safdarjung recorded a high of just 16.9°C. Night temperatures are expected to remain low, hovering between 7°C and 9°C.
Meteorologists classify visibility below 50 metres as 'very dense fog'. On Sunday, visibility remained critically low for prolonged periods, especially during the early morning. Experts warn that the winter months could see more such prolonged episodes, where vehicular and industrial emissions get trapped by cold, stagnant air, creating a toxic mix of smog and fog.
Transport authorities have advised extreme caution for road travel during late-night and early-morning hours, as visibility conditions remain highly unpredictable and dangerous.
