Delhi Chokes as Air Quality Stays ‘Severe’; AQI Hits 452, Flights Disrupted by Dense Smog

Delhi woke up to another toxic morning on Monday as air quality remained firmly in the ‘severe’ zone, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 452 at around 8 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The reading follows Sunday’s grim numbers, when the AQI stood at 461 by late afternoon.

A thick blanket of smog engulfed large swathes of the capital, slashing visibility and leaving residents struggling to breathe. Areas such as Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 409, while pollution hotspots extended across Kartavya Path, Akshardham, AIIMS and Yashobhoomi, all cloaked in dense haze.

Several neighbourhoods reported alarmingly high pollution levels. Aya Nagar (406), Chandni Chowk (437), RK Puram (477) and Dwarka Sector 8 (462) all fell under the ‘severe’ category, while Wazirpur touched the maximum AQI reading of 500, signalling extremely hazardous air.

Under India’s AQI scale, readings above 401 indicate ‘severe’ air quality, posing serious health risks even to healthy individuals.

Dust, Waste and Burning Add to the Crisis

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has flagged persistent gaps in on-ground enforcement. During a road inspection drive on December 12, CAQM teams surveyed 136 road stretches under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The findings revealed visible dust on several roads, along with widespread accumulation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition debris.

According to official data, 15 stretches showed high dust levels, 38 moderate dust, and 61 low dust intensity, while 22 had no visible dust. As many as 55 stretches had MSW accumulation, 53 had construction waste, and six showed evidence of MSW or biomass burning.

The Commission warned that such lapses directly worsen particulate pollution and called for urgent corrective action, including mechanical sweeping, timely dust disposal, water sprinkling, maintenance of road shoulders, and stricter enforcement against open burning.

Flights Hit as Fog Reduces Visibility

The deteriorating conditions also disrupted air travel. IndiGo Airlines issued a travel advisory on Monday, cautioning passengers that dense fog and low visibility over Delhi could impact flight schedules.

“Low visibility and fog over Delhi will impact flight schedules. We’re monitoring the situation closely and doing our best to operate safely,” the airline said, urging travellers to check flight status via official channels.

As Delhi continues to battle toxic air and limited visibility, authorities face mounting pressure to translate inspections and advisories into sustained action on the ground.

Meanwhile, IndiGo is back on track after a chaotic period, operating over 2,050 flights today with minimal cancellations. The airline has maintained its operational stability for five consecutive days, connecting all 138 destinations, IndiGo said in a press statement.

"All our 138 operational destinations are connected, and our on-time performance has been consistently normal as per IndiGo standards. In line with the operational update shared yesterday, we operated over 2,050 flights with only two cancellations, due to technical issues, with all affected customers reaccommodated in alternate flights immediately," the press statement said.