Delhi continued to battle toxic smog and hazardous air quality on Sunday, with official forecasts warning that pollution levels are likely to remain in the “severe” category for the next few days amid cold weather and dense fog across northern India.
The city’s air quality index (AQI) climbed steadily through Saturday, touching 410 at 11 pm, firmly breaching the severe threshold. By 6:30 am on Sunday, there was only marginal improvement, with the AQI recorded at 396, still hovering close to the severe mark, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi under the ministry of earth sciences.
Severe Pollution Likely to Persist
In its latest forecast, the warning system said air quality is expected to remain severe from December 20 to 22, before slightly easing to the “very poor” category on December 23. The broader outlook for the next six days remains concerning, with pollution levels projected to fluctuate between very poor and severe.
Several Areas Record Hazardous AQI Levels
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app showed multiple monitoring stations across the capital reporting extremely poor air quality during the early morning hours.
Among the worst-affected areas were:
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Chandni Chowk: AQI 455
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Wazirpur: AQI 449
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Rohini: AQI 444
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Jahangirpuri: AQI 444
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Anand Vihar: AQI 438
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Mundka: AQI 436
All these locations remained firmly in the severe category as of 6:05 am.
Cold Weather and Dense Fog Worsen Conditions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that falling temperatures and dense fog are compounding the pollution crisis. The weather agency issued orange alerts—the second-highest warning level—for Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh, cautioning residents and authorities about dense to very dense fog and potential disruptions.
Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of around 17°C and a minimum of about 8°C, indicating cold day conditions alongside persistent smog and fog.
As previously reported, satellite imagery captured on Sunday morning revealed a vast and continuous band of fog and smog stretching from the Kashmir Valley through Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, extending into parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Flight Operations Hit for Fifth Consecutive Day
Low visibility continued to disrupt flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport. At around 2:30 am, visibility dropped to 600 metres, affecting late-night and early-morning flights.
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, issued a travel advisory warning passengers of possible delays and disruptions due to fog across Delhi and other parts of northern India. The airline reiterated that passenger safety remains its top priority.
Airport officials confirmed that 66 arriving and 63 departing flights were cancelled on Saturday, marking the fifth straight day of disruptions. Data from Flightradar24 showed that by Saturday evening, 220 arrivals and over 400 departures were delayed, with average delays exceeding 30 minutes.
Authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor exposure, especially during early morning and late evening hours, and to follow health and travel advisories as pollution and weather conditions remain adverse.
