‘Severe’ smog chokes Delhi: Flight delays, low visibility, health hazard

A thick layer of smog has engulfed the national capital, with the AQI ‘severe’ and soaring past the 400 mark – at least 30 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit, resulting in health hazards, flight delays, and low visibility.       

The neighbouring cities of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad also witnessed heavy smog and poor air quality. The weather conditions prompted diversions of at least 10 flights, including six to Jaipur and one to Lucknow, as per a report in NDTV. 

The Indian Meteorological Department said on X that there is zero visibility in Delhi airport. Among other airports, Adampur in Punjab and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh also have zero visibility at present.   

AQI measures the particulate matter, or PM 2.5, in the air that can enter the lungs and cause health issues. As per the WHO, AQI values at or below 100 are considered satisfactory. The air quality in Delhi-NCR is likely to worsen as the temperature reduces.  

Authorities urged residents to stay indoors and use public transport to cut emissions, while Delhi-NCR residents took to X to highlight the severity of the issue and call for government action. 

Delhi is among the most polluted capital cities, with India ranked as the world’s third-most polluted country after neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan. 

Newslaundry earlier did an audit of Delhi’s air crisis solutions, ranging from planting drive to smog towers. Read here.

Subscribe now to power independent journalism.

Support our coverage of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls. Click here to contribute to our new NL Sena project.