On Thursday, a thick layer of smog engulfed the nation’s capital, reducing visibility and disrupting several flight operations. At Delhi Airport, more than 300 flights have experienced delays, according to media reports.
According to media reports, 226 flights leaving the nation’s capital have been delayed, and 115 flights have arrived in Delhi since 12 a.m. It stated that there is currently a notable 54-minute average departure delay and a 17-minute average arrival delay.
The Delhi airport issued a warning to passengers earlier today about poor visibility. “Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” it wrote on X.
Additionally, IndiGo Airlines issued a travel advisory on X, warning travelers to monitor their flight status because “winter fog” may cause some flights to be delayed. “This morning, winter fog may impact flights to/from Amritsar, Varanasi, and Delhi. Do keep a tab on your flight status before heading to the airport. Also, please allow additional travel time, as road traffic may move slower than usual due to low visibility. Thank you for your patience, and we wish you a smooth journey,” it said.
Delhi’s air quality ‘severe’
The nation’s capital saw a sharp increase in air quality within 24 hours; the air quality index increased from 418 to 452 very quickly. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s overall AQI was recorded at 334 on Tuesday, but this reached 459 at noon, which falls in ‘severe’ category.
AQI levels above 400 at 32 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, IGI Airport, and Patparganj. Some areas of the national capital, including Mathura Road (395), Dilshad Garden (385), Lodhi Road (370), and Sri Aurobindo Marg (345), were still classified as “very poor.”.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that AQI would rise to the “very poor” category as a result of increased wind activity, which may help reduce pollution concentrations.
No GRAP-3 anti-pollution measures yet
Gopal Rai, the environment minister for Delhi, declared that the Graded Response Action Plan’s third phase (GRAP 3) would not be implemented at this time. “Fog layer in Delhi is expected to improve due to low wind speed. The Delhi government will take all steps necessary if the pollution situation worsens due to adverse weather conditions,” he said.
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