Delhi-NCR Paralysed: Over 200 Flights Delayed, AQI Hits 'Severe' as Dense Fog Envelopes Region

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Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to a treacherous winter morning on Tuesday, with dense fog reducing visibility to near-zero in parts of Ghaziabad and Noida. The situation at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport was equally dire, with over 200 flights delayed and at least 10 cancelled due to the dense fog. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital city plummeted to 414 by 8 am, categorising it as 'severe', according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board's Sameer app. This hazardous air quality, coupled with light foggy conditions, led to poor visibility during early morning hours. The situation is unlikely to improve in the immediate future, with forecasts suggesting that air quality will remain in unhealthy zones over the next few days. According to projections by the 'Air Quality Early Warning System' for Delhi, the AQI is set to remain troubling through the Christmas period, with the city expected to experience 'very poor' air quality from December 22 to 24 and AQI between 'very poor' and 'severe' from December 25 onwards. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that weather conditions will continue to favour fog formation in the mornings, with shallow fog expected during morning hours on December 24 and 25. Moderate fog is likely to prevail during morning hours thereafter. While temperatures have seen only marginal changes, with a rise of about 1-2 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures over the past 24 hours, pollution and fog remain dominant concerns. The maximum temperature in Delhi hovered between 16°C and 18°C, while the minimum ranged from around 8°C to 11°C. The disruptions caused by the dense fog have already affected travel across north India, with over 500 flights delayed and at least 107 cancelled on Sunday. An official said that disruptions are likely to continue till Tuesday due to a prevailing western disturbance that has brought fresh snowfall to parts of Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. However, the official added that as the impact weakens from Wednesday, wind speeds will pick up and fog intensity will reduce.