Delhi Shrouded in Thick Fog: Over 150 Flights Delayed, AQI Hits 'Severe' Levels

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Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of fog and cold wave-like conditions on Sunday morning, pushing the city's air quality to the brink of 'severe' levels. According to data from the Sameer app, developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 391 as of 6:05 am. The AQI is expected to remain 'very poor' for the next few days, with a bulletin by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi (AQEWS) predicting poor air quality from Sunday to Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had sounded a yellow alert for Sunday morning, warning of dense fog and cold wave-like conditions. Experts said the low wind speeds, averaging 4-5 kmph, would persist till January 1, 2026, due to a western disturbance, keeping the AQI at the same level. Over 150 flights have been delayed at Delhi's IGI airport, according to FlightRadar24 data. In its latest advisory, the airport said that flight operations are running smoothly, but advised passengers to contact their airline or visit the official airport website for latest updates. The CPCB categorises an AQI of 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 as 'moderate', 201 to 300 as 'poor', 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and readings above 400 as 'severe'. Noida recorded 'severe' air quality on Sunday, with an AQI of 415, while Delhi's AQI was on the brink of breaching the 'very poor' category. The Delhi government has not changed restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), with stages one to three remaining in place after stage four curbs were rolled back last Wednesday. The situation is expected to remain the same till January 1, 2026, when the western disturbance is expected to move out of the region.