A dense blanket of fog covered large parts of the national capital and adjoining cities such as Noida, affecting routine movement and visibility.
The reduced visibility was particularly noticeable on major arterial roads. Along the Dwarka Expressway, vehicles were seen crawling with headlights switched on, highlighting the impact of fog on early-morning travel, as per News18.
Commuters across several stretches reported slower traffic movement as drivers exercised caution due to poor sightlines.
Air quality remains very poor
Amid the challenging weather conditions, Delhi’s overall air quality showed a marginal improvement. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the “very poor” category, with an average reading of 384 at around 8 am, as per data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
Despite this improvement at the city level, pollution levels remained alarmingly high in several localities.
Multiple air quality monitoring stations continued to register readings in the “severe” category, with AQI levels crossing the 400 mark.
Several areas remain in ‘severe’ zone
Some of the worst-affected areas included Wazirpur, which recorded an AQI of 454, followed by Anand Vihar at 450 and Rohini at 453.
Other pollution hotspots were Ashok Vihar (437), Punjabi Bagh (429), Sonia Vihar (426), Patparganj (413), Sirifort (408) and Shadipur (401), as per News18.
These figures indicate that large sections of the capital continue to face hazardous air conditions despite the slight overall improvement.
On Monday, December 29, Delhi’s air quality was categorised as “severe”, with the overall AQI standing at 403. As many as 25 monitoring stations had recorded AQI levels above 400, underscoring the extent of pollution across the city.
While the dip in AQI on Tuesday offers limited relief, dense fog and persistently high pollution levels continue to pose serious concerns for public health and daily life in Delhi-NCR.
Flight operations hit at Delhi Airport
At least 118 flights were cancelled at the Delhi Airport on Tuesday, December 30, which included 60 arrivals and 58 departures, CNBC-TV18 learnt. Meanwhile, 16 diversions were reported.
However, the Delhi Airport in a passenger advisory released at 8 am, stated that visibility around the airport improved due to which the flight operations were running smoothly.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), said, "Flight operations are running smoothly as visibility at the airport has improved. Please be assured that our on-ground officials are available across terminals to assist passengers and provide necessary support."
Meanwhile, Air India said that the airline has activated "Fog Care" to support travellers during weather-related delays and schedule changes. "If your flight is likely to be affected, you’ll receive proactive updates, along with the option for a complimentary reschedule or a full refund at no penalty," the airline said.
