Delhi is facing a double whammy of a cold wave and toxic air pollution, pushing the city's air quality to the brink of the "severe" category. On Sunday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) at 390, a slight improvement from Saturday's 398, but still within the "very poor" range. The cold wave is the first of the season, with Saturday being the coldest day in December so far, as the maximum temperature plunged to 16.9 degrees Celsius, which is 5 degrees below the normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for dense to very dense fog during overnight and early morning hours on Sunday.
Several monitoring stations have recorded much higher AQI values. Chandni Chowk was one of the most polluted locations, with an AQI of 455, followed by Wazirpur at 449, Bawana at 446, Rohini at 444, and Anand Vihar at 438. Neighboring cities are also experiencing grim air quality, with Gurugram reporting an AQI of 354, Noida 352, and Ghaziabad 334, all in the "very poor" category. Faridabad had a "poor" AQI of 283.
The hazardous air quality has disrupted daily life, with visibility significantly reduced due to dense fog. This has led to transportation chaos, including flight cancellations and delays. On Saturday, 129 flights were canceled at Delhi's airport due to the dense fog. While flight operations were reported to be running smoothly on Sunday, passengers are still advised to check with their airlines for updates.
The IMD has warned of reduced visibility in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana until Sunday morning. Isolated fog pockets are expected in Punjab and Haryana between December 25 and 27, and in west Uttar Pradesh on December 26 and 27. The combination of cold weather, dense fog, and elevated pollution levels poses a significant health risk to residents, especially children and the elderly.
Authorities have implemented measures to control the pollution. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all actions under GRAP Stage-IV across Delhi-NCR. The MCD has imposed a ₹33.95 lakh fine on construction sites for Grap-IV violations. Strict action is expected against polluting industries.
The current situation highlights the growing environmental challenges in Delhi and the National Capital Region. Unfavorable meteorological conditions, such as low wind speeds, are hindering the dispersion of pollutants, exacerbating the problem. Delhi's air quality is expected to remain in the severe category on Sunday and Monday before improving slightly to the very poor category on Tuesday.
