A severe twin-crisis gripped the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday morning, as dense fog combined with extreme air pollution plunged visibility to near-zero and pushed the Air Quality Index (AQI) into the ‘Severe Plus’ category, breaching the 450 mark.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an ‘orange alert’ for the fog, while the toxic smog and poor visibility severely disrupted early morning travel across all major transport networks.
Hundreds of travellers faced inconvenience as both flight operations at Delhi’s airport and approximately 60 North Indian train services experienced substantial delays.
Authorities, including airlines and airport officials, issued urgent advisories, urging residents to check travel status and health experts warned against unnecessary outdoor exposure.
Air Travel Chaos
Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) were severely affected, leading to 40 cancellations and four diversions due to near-zero visibility from dense fog. Delhi Airport issued a general advisory confirming “flight operations may experience disruptions.”
Airlines like IndiGo and Air India urged passengers to check their flight status, with some flights “proactively cancelled” for safety. The Ministry of Civil Aviation advised allowing extra travel time due to anticipated slow road traffic conditions near the airport.
Dual Crisis of Fog and Pollution
The city awoke to a dangerous combination of meteorological and environmental hazards, where the dense winter fog trapped high concentrations of pollutants, resulting in a thick blanket of toxic smog.
This persistent condition led to Delhi’s Air Quality Index officially classifying as ‘Severe Plus’, indicating a severe public health emergency. This category, reserved for AQI readings above 450, signals high risk even for healthy individuals and requires immediate precautionary action.
The situation was compounded by a dip in night temperatures, recorded at 8.2 degrees Celsius by the IMD, which further stabilises the air and prevents the dispersal of pollutants. This confluence of factors creates an annual challenge that significantly impacts the health and infrastructure of the region.
Widespread Disruption
The immediate consequences of the near-zero visibility were felt across the capital’s key infrastructure. Road traffic slowed to a crawl, rendering areas like India Gate, Kartavya Path, Anand Vihar, and Akshardham hazy and dangerous for commuting.
Specific localities recorded alarming air quality levels, with Ashok Vihar hitting an AQI of 500, and Noida registering 454, both falling into the most hazardous band. Furthermore, the adverse weather severely impacted rail travel, causing delays for around 60 trains operating across North India.
Airlines, including IndiGo, issued advisories requesting passengers to check their flight status, with Delhi Airport confirming, “We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience to passengers.” Meanwhile, health experts urgently advised the public to avoid all outdoor exercise, wear masks when stepping out, and restrict travel to later in the day when sunlight might offer marginal relief.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This yearly cycle of smog and fog in the NCR is more than just a weather report; it is an urgent reminder of our collective duty to safeguard public health and environment.
While we must extend our deepest empathy to the travellers facing delays and the ground staff working under immense pressure, the crisis demands long-term, structural solutions focused on kindness towards our planet.
