Delhi remained under a thick blanket of toxic smog on Friday as air quality stayed in the ‘very poor’ category and dense fog sharply reduced visibility, disrupting flight operations at the city’s airport.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 387 at 7.05 am, deteriorating further from Thursday’s rolling average of 373, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) available on the Sameer app.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said very dense fog covered large parts of the national capital during the early morning hours. Visibility dropped to zero at Safdarjung, while it fell to around 50 metres at Palam airport.
IMD officials said visibility began declining from Thursday afternoon. While visibility was around 800 metres at about 3 pm under clear weather, it worsened steadily through the evening and night, dropping to 50 metres by 2.30 am on Friday.
At 5.30 am, the weather department forecast very dense fog over all districts of Delhi for the next two to three hours.
Over 150 flights cancelled as fog disrupts airport operations
Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were badly hit on Friday, with more than 150 flights cancelled so far due to dense fog.
Visibility has remained poor since late Thursday night, forcing airlines to slow down arrivals and departures. Airport authorities said flight movements are being handled under CAT III conditions to manage operations safely in low visibility.
Officials confirmed that dense fog continues to affect schedules, with delays and cancellations reported across both arrivals and departures.
CAT III refers to a landing system that allows aircraft to operate in extremely low visibility. Such operations require special aircraft equipment and trained pilots and are used only during severe weather conditions.
An airport official said ground teams are coordinating with airlines and other agencies to assist passengers at terminals as disruptions continue.
“Dense fog is impacting flight schedules, and operations are being carried out under CAT III conditions. Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for updates. We regret the inconvenience caused,” the official said.
Meanwhile, IndiGo issued a travel advisory, warning passengers that early-morning fog in Delhi and parts of North India is disrupting flight movements. The airline said reduced visibility during winter is a seasonal issue and may lead to delays or changes in flight timings.
Fog has also been reported from several other parts of North India, affecting a large number of incoming and outgoing flights. Airport officials noted that similar disruptions have been reported throughout the week due to dense morning fog.
Pollution in Delhi today
Several areas also reported high pollution levels. Out of the 40 active air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, 17 recorded ‘severe’ air quality on Friday morning, while several others remained close to the 400 mark.
R.K. Puram, a residential area known for high pollution levels, was among the worst affected, recording an AQI of 441, nearing the CPCB’s ‘severe plus’ category.
As per CPCB standards, AQI levels between 301 and 400 fall under the ‘very poor’ category, while readings above 400 are classified as ‘severe’. Such levels can affect even healthy people and pose serious risks to those with breathing or heart-related conditions.
Experts said calm westerly winds of 4–6 kmph, along with low temperatures and moisture, contributed to the build-up of pollutants and reduced visibility.
Delhi also saw a sharp fall in temperatures on Thursday. According to IMD, the maximum temperature dropped by 4–6°C over the past 24 hours and settled at 20.1°C, over 2°C below normal. The minimum temperature stood at 9°C, which is near normal.