Delhi : suffers from “very poor” air as the AQI drops, and flights are disrupted by thick fog

Delhi : was still suffering from extreme pollution on Friday, with the air quality becoming worse and heavy fog making traveling even more difficult, especially for those who use the plane.

At 6 a.m., the national capital’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 387, solidly in the “very poor” category and providing little relief from the city’s protracted pollution spell.

Compared to Thursday morning’s AQI of 356, the scenario clearly showed a drop, highlighting Delhi’s steadily deteriorating air quality. Images from the ITO region and other sections of the city revealed a dense layer of harmful haze covering buildings and roadways, greatly impairing vision.

Dense fog further complicated matters for locals by interfering with aircraft operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. As a result, officials had to apply CAT III operations, a low-visibility procedure that often results in flight delays and rescheduling.

Delhi Airport said in a passenger alert posted on X: “Flight operations are currently being managed under CAT III conditions due to prevailing dense fog conditions, which has resulted in disruptions in flight schedules.” You may be certain that our employees are working closely with all parties involved to help travelers and provide the assistance they need at every terminal. Please contact your individual airlines for up-to-date flight information. We really apologize for any inconvenience and value your patience.

While encouraging travelers to check their flight status with their respective airlines prior to arriving at the airport, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) also said that on-ground teams were collaborating closely with airlines and other stakeholders to help travelers throughout terminals.

In the meanwhile, the AQI values in a number of locations in the nation’s capital were startlingly high, approaching or above the “severe” category. With an AQI of 447, R K Puram was the most polluted area, closely followed by Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar, and Sirifort, all of which had 442.

Dwarka Sector-8 (429), Nehru Nagar (425), NSIT Dwarka (423), Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range (423), and Okhla Phase-2 (422), among other pollution hotspots, demonstrated the crisis’s pervasiveness.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has triggered all GRAP Stage-IV measures in Delhi-NCR in reaction to the deteriorating air quality. To stop future degradation, these efforts include stronger restrictions on industrial operations, building, and vehicle traffic.

Authorities have advised locals to restrict outdoor exposure and heed health cautions due to the high pollution levels.