A thick layer of smog blanketed Delhi and its neighbouring regions, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, early Wednesday morning, significantly impacting visibility and leading to flight diversions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that visibility was as low as zero meters at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) around 8:30 am, with the runway visual range varying between 125 to 500 metres across different locations.
As a result, at least 10 flights were diverted due to adverse weather conditions, with six flights directed to Jaipur and one to Lucknow since 7:00 am. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) stated on X (formerly Twitter), “While landing and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected.” The CAT III navigation system allows aircraft to land even in low-visibility conditions, but not all flights are equipped with this capability.
Delhi’s AQI Enters ‘Severe’ Category as Smog Worsens
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi surged into the ‘Severe’ category, breaching the 400 mark, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Visibility was severely affected, especially in areas like Akshardham, where visuals showed a dense smog layer. For the past two weeks, Delhi’s AQI had remained in the ‘Very Poor’ range before escalating to ‘Severe’ on Wednesday.
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In nearby areas, AQI levels remained concerning: Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad recorded ‘Poor’ AQI levels, while Faridabad had a ‘Moderate’ AQI of 188. Within Delhi, Anand Vihar and Aya Nagar monitoring stations reported ‘Severe’ AQI levels, according to CPCB data.
According to the AQI scale, a reading of 0-50 is considered ‘Good,’ 51-100 ‘Satisfactory,’ 101-200 ‘Moderate,’ 201-300 ‘Poor,’ 301-400 ‘Very Poor,’ 401-450 ‘Severe,’ and above 450 ‘Severe Plus.’
Visibility and Weather Conditions
The IMD noted that “very dense” fog began forming around 5:30 am and forecasted shallow fog for the rest of the day. Delhi’s maximum temperature is expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius. The current stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is active in Delhi, mandating mechanical road sweeping, water sprinkling on key roads, and dust control measures at construction and demolition sites to mitigate pollution levels.
Widespread Pollution Across Indo-Gangetic Plains and Neighbouring Pakistan
The severe air quality crisis is not limited to Delhi alone. Other cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plains are experiencing similarly hazardous air quality. Three cities in Bihar, two cities in Haryana, and Chandigarh ranked among the top 10 most polluted places in India on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province is also grappling with a dangerous rise in pollution levels. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a warning about the severe health risks faced by approximately 11 million children in the region.
