Delhi air quality turns ‘severe’; flights, trains cancelled due to dense fog

The air quality in Delhi deteriorated to the ‘severe category’ with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 492 on Saturday, according to the data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research(SAFAR).

A thick blanket of fog has also engulfed the national capital reducing visibility in parts of the national capital. Train and flight services have also been disrupted due to the dense fog in Delhi and surrounding areas.

At least four flights to and from Delhi airport are delayed and at least one flight has been cancelled due to fog.

Due to dense fog, only CAT IIIA and CATIII B compliant aircraft and pilots can operate. Passengers have been requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information, the Delhi airport said.

9.8 temperature was recorded in Delhi’s on Friday, which is likely to fall by 0.2 during next 24 hours.

IMD said the minimum temperatures over the plains of North India is very likely to rise by 3-4 by the morning of January 18.

On January 15, Delhi’s minimum temperature rose to 6.4 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal due to partly cloudy weather, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 remained prominent in the air of the five immediate neighbours of Delhi, according to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

According to the index, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.