Delhi chokes under smog once again, pushing the national capital into a familiar but deeply troubling winter crisis. On Tuesday morning, residents woke up to thick, toxic haze hanging low over the city, slashing visibility and sending air quality firmly into the ‘severe’ zone.
According to official data from the Sameer app, Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 414 around 7 am. That number alone signals a public health emergency. At this level, experts warn that even healthy people can experience breathing discomfort, while those with existing respiratory or heart conditions face heightened risk.
Why is this episode grabbing attention? Because Delhi chokes under smog not just at isolated spots, but across almost the entire city and the wider National Capital Region, disrupting transport, daily routines, and basic mobility.
Delhi chokes under smog as pollution hotspots cross danger levels
Pollution readings across Delhi painted a grim picture. Several areas recorded AQI levels far above the severe threshold of 400.
Anand Vihar emerged as one of the worst-hit zones with an AQI of 466. Mundka followed closely at 451, while Ashok Vihar recorded 444. The ITO area stood at 436, all firmly in the ‘severe’ category.
The impact wasn’t limited to residential pockets. Iconic landmarks such as India Gate, Kartavya Path and Rashtrapati Bhavan were engulfed in dense smog, with visibility so poor that buildings appeared blurred even at close distances. AQI readings in these central zones also crossed 400, underlining how widespread the pollution episode has become.
Delhi chokes under smog conditions were mirrored across the NCR as well. Noida recorded an AQI of 426, while Ghaziabad stood at 415, both categorised as severe. This shows the pollution is not confined to Delhi alone but has spread across the entire region.
Flights and trains disrupted as visibility drops sharply
The sharp fall in visibility quickly translated into travel chaos. Dense fog combined with smog disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
According to PTI, more than 500 flights were delayed on Monday due to poor visibility and adverse weather conditions. At least 14 flights were cancelled, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded or scrambling for alternatives.
Rail services were also affected. Several trains running through northern India were delayed by at least 30 minutes, while a few services were cancelled altogether. Passengers reported long waits and uncertainty as fog reduced visibility on railway tracks across the region.
The severity of the situation was evident from visibility data. The lowest visibility in Delhi was recorded at just 150 metres at Palam during the early hours, making safe movement difficult for both air and ground transport.
GRAP-4 enforced as authorities respond to worsening air
As Delhi chokes under smog and pollution levels worsened, authorities triggered Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan, known as GRAP-4. This is the strictest set of anti-pollution measures, activated only when AQI crosses the severe threshold.
Under GRAP-4, truck-mounted water sprinklers were deployed across multiple parts of the city to suppress road dust and reduce particulate matter in the air. Additional curbs on construction activity and dust-generating operations are also part of these emergency steps.
For context, AQI values are classified as follows:
0–50 is ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’. Delhi’s current reading places it at the extreme end of the scale.
Weather outlook: Slight relief possible, but danger not over
Weather officials say there could be gradual improvement in visibility over the coming days, though air quality is unlikely to recover quickly.
According to the India Meteorological Department, fog intensity is expected to reduce till December 26 as the prevailing western disturbance weakens and wind speeds increase. Surface winds of up to 20 kmph during the day may help disperse fog, but pollution is expected to remain in the very poor category.
The IMD has not issued any colour-coded weather alerts till December 28. However, meteorologists caution against complacency.
Skymet Vice President Mahesh Palawat warned that another weak western disturbance between December 28 and 31 could bring calmer winds and trigger a fresh spell of dense fog. While increasing northwesterly winds may reduce fog temporarily, they are also likely to cause a sharp dip in temperatures.
Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 21.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, while the minimum stood at 11 degrees. The minimum temperature is expected to fall sharply to between 6 and 8 degrees by December 25. Daytime temperatures may remain below 20 degrees from December 24 onwards.
Vehicle curbs reviewed as enforcement tightens
Separately, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR reviewed existing anti-pollution measures during its 26th full commission meeting. The panel reiterated the Supreme Court’s December 17 order lifting protection for BS-III and older vehicles.
While BS-IV and newer vehicles continue to enjoy protection from coercive action, enforcement agencies have been directed to take strict action against highly polluting BS-III and lower-emission vehicles.
As Delhi chokes under smog yet again, residents are being urged to limit outdoor exposure, wear masks if necessary, and follow health advisories. With winter conditions still in play, the capital’s battle with toxic air is far from over.
