Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog and dense fog on Monday, severely disrupting air and rail traffic across the national capital and several parts of north India. At least 10 flights were cancelled and over 150 flights delayed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport due to poor visibility and “very poor” air quality, according to airport officials and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi remained in the very poor category, with readings touching 366, while some monitoring stations, including Narela, recorded severe levels above 400, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed. A thick grey haze enveloped the city, reducing visibility to as low as 150 metres in parts of Delhi.
The weather impact was not limited to air travel. Around 30 trains were delayed in Delhi as dense fog affected rail operations. IMD data also showed zero visibility between 7:30 am and 8:30 am in cities such as Amritsar, Bathinda, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Bareilly and Jabalpur, highlighting the widespread nature of the weather disturbance.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that while AQI levels this season have been comparatively better than previous years, unfavourable meteorological conditions like stagnant winds worsen pollution levels. He added that the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is being implemented based on forecasts to curb pollution during such episodes.
Meanwhile, winter weather tightened its grip across northern India. Light snowfall was reported in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district, while moderate to severe snowfall is likely in isolated areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. In Kashmir, fresh snowfall led to the closure of key roads, including the Srinagar-Leh highway, and caused flight disruptions at Srinagar airport.
The IMD has warned that dense fog and cold wave conditions are likely to persist in several states over the next few days, urging people to take precautions and check travel advisories before commuting.
