Delhi continued to reel under a blanket of dense fog and heavy air pollution on Friday, with daily life and air travel severely disrupted for yet another day. Low visibility combined with toxic air created hazardous conditions across the national capital, prompting weather authorities to warn that the situation could worsen over the weekend.
Over 700 flights affected, 177 cancelled
Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were hit hard due to poor visibility. More than 700 flights were delayed, while at least 177 services were cancelled, affecting both arrivals and departures, including a few international flights. Early on Friday, visibility plunged dramatically—dropping to zero at Safdarjung and just 50 metres at Palam. In response, authorities issued a red alert for dense fog, advising passengers to check flight schedules before heading to the airport.
Orange alert issued
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for dense fog on Saturday, warning of very thick fog in many parts of Delhi during early morning hours. Light mist is also expected during the night. Similar weather conditions are likely to persist on Sunday and Monday, with dense fog continuing in several areas of the city.
Air quality remains in the ‘very poor’ range
Delhi’s air quality showed no signs of improvement. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 374 on Friday, firmly in the “very poor” category. Morning readings were even more alarming, edging closer to the “severe” mark. Several air quality monitoring stations recorded extremely unhealthy pollution levels.
Vivek Vihar reported the worst air quality, with AQI levels crossing 430, followed closely by Anand Vihar. At one point during the day, more than a dozen monitoring locations across the city slipped into the “severe” category, raising serious health concerns.
Colder nights likely to worsen pollution
Temperatures dipped further, with the minimum settling at 9 degrees Celsius on Friday. Weather forecasts suggest that nights could turn even colder over the weekend. Experts warn that falling temperatures can trap pollutants closer to the ground, worsening air quality. Light winds and the absence of rainfall are further aggravating the situation, preventing the dispersion of pollutants.
Despite intensified checks on vehicles and thousands of fines issued across the National Capital Region (NCR), vehicular emissions continue to contribute significantly to Delhi’s pollution. Data indicates that the share of pollution from vehicles is expected to rise in the coming days, adding to the already grim scenario.
This December has witnessed several spells of severe air pollution, making it one of the worst in recent years. Since November, Delhi has endured prolonged periods of very poor air quality, with little respite for residents.
Supreme Court calls for long-term solutions
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court sharply criticised short-term pollution control measures, calling them inadequate to address the recurring crisis. The apex court urged authorities to focus on permanent, long-term solutions and emphasised the need for coordinated action between Delhi and its neighbouring states. The matter is scheduled to be reviewed again in early January.
As dense fog and hazardous air continue to grip the capital, residents remain braced for a difficult weekend, hoping for weather changes or stronger policy interventions to bring much-needed relief.
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