New Delhi, Jan 19 : A thick blanket of fog and hazardous smog enveloped Delhi on Monday, sharply reducing visibility across the national capital as air quality remained firmly in the ‘severe’ category, prompting the continuation of Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-IV).
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 418 on Monday morning. Certain hotspots recorded even higher levels, with ITO at 434 and Rafi Marg at 417. Near AIIMS, AQI hovered between 443 and 447, indicating extremely unsafe conditions for residents.
Dense fog persisted through the morning in multiple areas, disrupting transport services and causing delays to several flights at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Authorities urged passengers to monitor flight schedules closely.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast partly cloudy skies over Delhi-NCR, with moderate fog at several places and isolated dense fog in the mornings. Minimum temperatures are expected between 7 and 9°C, while maximum temperatures may remain unusually high at 24–26°C. Light northeasterly winds are likely to prevail.
Delhi recorded its most polluted January day in two years over the weekend, with the AQI reaching 440 on Sunday evening, the highest for the month and the worst since the second half of January 2019. Following this spike, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage IV of the GRAP, enforcing the strictest pollution control measures, including bans on construction activities and restrictions on vehicle movement.
Weather conditions may offer marginal relief, with AQI potentially improving to the ‘very poor’ category later on Monday.
Elsewhere in northern India, cold wave conditions continued. Moradabad saw temperatures drop to around 8°C, while Agra experienced morning fog over the Taj Mahal. Jammu and Kashmir recorded sub-zero temperatures in multiple areas, including Srinagar at minus 4.7°C. Mount Abu in Rajasthan registered an unusually low -5°C for January.
According to CPCB standards, AQI readings between 401 and 500 are classified as ‘severe’, posing serious health risks. The Supreme Court recently criticized CAQM for failing to clearly identify pollution sources in the NCR, directing the agency to complete a source-apportionment study and publish its findings.
Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution and remain vigilant as the combination of smog and cold wave is expected to persist in the coming days.