The national capital remained under the grip of hazardous air pollution on Tuesday, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) pegged at 378 around 8 am, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Although pollution levels showed a slight improvement from Monday, when the AQI had climbed to 427 in the ‘severe’ range by around 4 pm, air quality continued to stay alarmingly high across much of the city, ANI reported.
Thick toxic smog blanketed Delhi, leading to sharply reduced visibility and discomfort for both residents and visitors.
Air quality stayed poor in central Delhi, with the AQI reaching 380 near India Gate and around 359 in Sarai Kale Khan, both in the ‘very poor’ category. Pollution hotspots Ghazipur and Anand Vihar continued to see ‘severe’ air quality, with AQI levels close to 410.
Visibility drops as residents, tourists feel the impact
Smog-induced low visibility disrupted daily life in the capital, with many people complaining of breathing difficulties. While speaking to ANI, a tourist who arrived in Delhi from Indore described the conditions as visibly distressing.
“The situation here is very serious because of pollution. I arrived in Delhi last evening from Indore. Compared to Indore, I am experiencing difficulty in breathing. Visibility here is very poor; we cannot see the India Gate properly. It is affecting our health,” he said.
As per CPCB guidelines, air quality is called ‘very poor’ when the AQI is between 301 and 400. If it goes above 400, it is marked ‘severe’. Such polluted air can be dangerous, especially for children, older people, and those who already have breathing problems.
Airport issues advisory as smog affects visibility
As smog continued to affect visibility, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an advisory for passengers. It said that flight operations were slowly returning to normal, but some departures and arrivals could still face disruptions.
Travellers were advised to check directly with their airlines for updated information, while airport staff were stationed across terminals to assist passengers.
Fog Update issued at 0606 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.x.com/4sUm3mk8jX— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 16, 2025
Meanwhile, IndiGo Airlines issued a travel advisory for passengers. “As winter sets in, early mornings across Northern India can bring fog that may occasionally slow down flight movements. We wanted to share this gentle heads-up in advance, so you can plan with ease and check your flight status before heading to the airport.”
“Please be assured that our teams are well prepared and closely monitoring weather conditions. Wherever possible, we are making thoughtful adjustments on the ground to reduce inconvenience and ensure any waiting time is as comfortable as possible,” the advisory stated.
Other cities fare better, Delhi remains an outlier
In contrast to Delhi, air quality conditions in several other major cities remained relatively better. Ahmedabad recorded an AQI of 117, Bengaluru 104, Chennai 135, Hyderabad 103 and Mumbai 109 — largely falling within the ‘moderate’ to ‘satisfactory’ range.
Jaipur (187), Lucknow (158), Patna (156) and Pune (194) also reported ‘moderate’ air quality, underscoring the stark gap between the national capital and other urban centres.
CAQM panel meets as GRAP Stage IV remains in force
Against the backdrop of worsening pollution, the Expert Committee set up by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for the National Capital Region and adjoining areas held its first meeting on Monday. The panel is chaired by Ashok Jhunjhunwala and co-chaired by Prof Randeep Guleria.
According to CAQM, discussions centred on vehicular emission sources, including segment-wise contribution to pollution, exposure risks, preparedness for electric vehicles and infrastructure requirements. The committee is expected to place concrete and actionable recommendations in upcoming meetings.
Delhi continues to remain under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after AQI levels earlier crossed the 450 mark, entering the ‘severe plus’ category.
In response to the hazardous air conditions, the Delhi government has directed schools to conduct classes in online mode for students up to Class 5, moving away from the hybrid system until further notice, ANI reported.