Delhi woke up to a thick layer of fog on Thursday morning, significantly reducing visibility and further exacerbating the ongoing air quality crisis. The cold wave gripping the city has contributed to the worsening air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging into the ‘very poor’ category.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an AQI of 344 at 7 AM, a steep rise from yesterday’s reading of 252 at the same time. Several monitoring stations across the city reported alarmingly high AQI levels, with some areas bordering on the ‘severe’ category.
Key AQI Readings Across Delhi:
- Vivek Vihar: 414 (highest, ‘severe’)
- Wazirpur: 408 (‘severe’)
- Nehru Nagar: 394 (‘very poor’)
- Okhla Phase-2: 380 (‘very poor’)
- Rohini: 399 (‘very poor’)
- Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium: 368 (‘very poor’)
Other areas, including Mandir Marg, Mundka, Pusa, and R K Puram, reported AQI levels exceeding 350, indicating dangerously high pollution levels.
AQI Categories Explained:
- 0–50: Good
- 51–100: Satisfactory
- 101–200: Moderate
- 201–300: Poor
- 301–400: Very Poor
- 401–500: Severe
The dense fog not only worsened air quality but also disrupted public life, with visuals showing heavily fogged areas such as Nirankari Colony and Shankar Vihar along NH-48. Drivers were forced to use headlights even in the morning, while residents were seen huddling around bonfires to combat the biting cold.
Meanwhile, cold wave conditions have severely affected neighboring regions, including parts of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, where heavy fog further reduced visibility. In Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, dense fog enveloped the city, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting minimum temperatures to remain below 9°C. Similarly, Hooghly city in West Bengal was covered in a blanket of fog, disrupting daily life.
The ongoing fog, cold wave, and deteriorating air quality have heightened concerns for public health and safety, urging residents to take necessary precautions, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
