Delhi woke up to dense smog and poor visibility on Saturday as air quality remained very poor, prompting an orange fog alert and enforcement of GRAP Stage IV restrictions.
(Photo: IANS)
Delhi began Saturday under a familiar winter haze. Smog sat low over the city through the early hours, visibility dipped across several areas, and air quality slipped further, setting the tone for a difficult day ahead.
The India Meteorological Department placed the capital under an orange alert, cautioning that dense to very dense fog was likely during the morning. A yellow alert has been issued for Sunday and Monday, when fog conditions are expected to continue, though at a slightly lower intensity.
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In its daily outlook, the weather department said Delhi would see a partly cloudy sky, with thick fog in the morning hours and mist or shallow fog returning late at night and in the early hours.
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The drop in visibility also began to affect air traffic. The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued operational guidelines for flights, while Delhi Airport asked passengers to remain alert and check with airlines before travelling.
“Low-visibility procedures are still in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are functioning normally. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates,” the airport said in an advisory.
Major carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, echoed the warning, flagging the possibility of delays as foggy conditions persisted.
On the pollution front, there was little respite. The Air Quality Index remained in the very poor category at 376 at 6 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. Forecasts from the Air Quality Early Warning System indicate that pollution levels could worsen over the weekend, with the AQI likely to slip into the severe range.
Readings from across the city painted a worrying picture. AQI touched 428 at Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar, while Akshardham recorded 420. Levels stood at 403 at Rao Tularam Marg, 407 at Ashok Vihar and 429 in the ITO area. The Barapullah flyover continued to remain in the very poor category at 380.
Taken together, the figures suggest that large parts of the capital are once again breathing unhealthy air.
As the situation worsened, the Commission for Air Quality Management moved to tighten controls across Delhi-NCR, bringing Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan into force. The curbs include limits on certain diesel vehicles, a pause on non-essential construction work and tougher checks aimed at cutting pollution at the source.
With both visibility and air quality unlikely to improve immediately, people have been urged to avoid stepping out unless necessary, take simple precautions, and stay tuned to weather updates and airline advisories over the coming days.
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