New Delhi, Jan 17 : A blanket of dense fog severely affected visibility in Delhi on Saturday, disrupting morning travel and keeping air quality in the ‘very poor’ category.
At 9:00 am, Palam recorded visibility of 500 metres in shallow fog, while Safdarjung reported only 200 metres in moderate fog with calm winds, prompting flight cancellations due to low visibility.
The city also experienced intense cold, with the minimum temperature recorded at 7°C, a slight improvement from Friday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for cold wave and dense fog, as the cold wave continues for the sixth consecutive day. On January 16, the minimum temperature had dropped to 4.3°C.
Meanwhile, air pollution remains hazardous. Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 374, largely due to high PM10 levels. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 450 at 8:00 am, followed by Chandni Chowk–Delhi IITM at 435.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked GRAP-III measures in response to the worsening air quality. According to CPCB standards, an AQI of 301–400 is classified as ‘very poor’, while 401–500 is ‘severe’.
The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to range between 21–23°C and 6–8°C respectively, as residents continue to battle both the dense fog and hazardous air conditions.