Dense fog enveloped the national capital on Friday, reducing visibility to zero in some areas and severely impacting transportation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded zero visibility at Palam around 4:30 am and just 50 meters at Safdarjung by 5:30 am.
The weather disturbance caused significant delays in travel. Over 100 flights were delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, while 26 trains faced delays, according to official reports.
Weather Update
Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 17.6°C, slightly below the normal for the season, and a minimum temperature of 6°C, 0.9°C below the usual. The IMD has predicted cloudy skies with light rain and thunderstorms over the weekend. Dense fog is also expected in the mornings, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 15°C and 8°C, respectively.
Air Quality Concerns
The city’s air quality worsened, nearing the “severe” category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) at 4 pm stood at 397, categorized as “very poor.” Out of 29 monitoring stations, 18 recorded AQI readings in the “severe” category, including areas like Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Dwarka, and Jahangirpuri, where AQI levels crossed 400.
Abhishek Kar, Senior Programme Lead at the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), noted that the minimum temperature of 6°C recorded on January 10 contributed to the dense fog. He explained, “Dense fog reduces the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground, thereby lowering the mixing layer height and leading to the accumulation of pollutants near the ground.”
Authorities’ Response
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 3 measures in Delhi and its surrounding areas. These include banning older vehicles from plying, intensifying public transport, introducing differential pricing for off-peak travel, and prohibiting dust-generating construction activities.
Kar emphasized the need for strict enforcement of these measures to improve air quality and minimize health risks.
Sources By Agencies
