New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in several regions of the capital, and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand
are also under the orange alert. With Delhi-NCR blanketed by dense fog, visibility was reduced to near zero, resulting in the shutdown of schools in Noida and disrupting flight operations.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) again surpassed the 400-mark in the national capital, as Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 403 in the early hours of Monday, falling under the ‘severe’ category.
Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 459, whereas Dwarka recorded an AQI of 338. The AQI is hovering between 391 and 523 on Monday, placing large parts of the city in the ‘Severe’ category.
The city’s situation is worsening for its residents, as intense cold waves, combined with escalating pollution levels, are taking a toll on people’s health. The minimum temperature dropped to 6.3 degrees Celsius, below the seasonal average.
The officials advised children and the elderly to avoid outdoor activities and unnecessary travel, as again Delhi’s air quality deteriorated into the ‘Severe’ category.
Flights and more than 100 trains are delayed
The Indira Gandhi International Airport had issued a passenger advisory as the authority warned the travellers of disruption in flight operations because of the low visibility.
According to the Indian Railways, more than 100 trains were running several hours late on Monday morning due to dense fog. If the fog doesn’t clear in next few more hours, trains will be delayed even further. Passengers are also facing significant difficulties at the railway station due to the train delays.
A normal life has been impacted in Noida as a thick blanket of fog shrouded the city, resulting in the district administration declaring a shutdown of schools from December 29 to January 1.
On the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, the visibility has fallen to near-zero as the drivers are finding it difficult to drive, and the inconvenience for commuters is increasing rapidly.
