Fog, Low Winds Worsen Delhi Air Quality Over 150 Flights Delayed

Delhi woke up to very poor air quality on Sunday as dense fog and cold wave–like conditions enveloped the national capital, pushing pollution levels close to the “severe” mark and disrupting air travel.

According to data from the Sameer app developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 391 at 6:05 am, remaining on the brink of the severe category. Dense fog and low wind speeds also led to delays of more than 150 flights at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, as per FlightRadar24.

While Delhi hovered in the “very poor” range, Noida recorded ‘severe’ air quality with an AQI of 415 on Sunday morning. Pollution levels in the capital worsened steadily on Saturday, slipping into the severe category later in the day. The AQI stood at 385 at 4 pm, rose to 390 by 6 pm, and reached 391 by 10 pm, according to official bulletins.

Out of 39 operational monitoring stations, 20 stations recorded ‘severe’ air quality. These included Anand Vihar (445), Chandni Chowk (415), Jahangirpuri (430), Shadipur (443), and Wazirpur (443). Most other stations reported AQI levels in the ‘very poor’ range (301–400), while NSIT Dwarka was the only station to record ‘poor’ air quality with an AQI of 214.

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Low visibility and calm weather worsen air quality, delaying over 150 flights at Delhi airport

The CPCB classifies AQI levels between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor’, and readings above 400 as ‘severe’.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Sunday morning, warning of dense fog and cold wave–like conditions. Weather experts said slow wind speeds would prevent the dispersion of pollutants and keep AQI levels elevated.

Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet, said Delhi experienced very low wind speeds on Saturday, averaging 4–5 kmph, with brief spikes to 8–9 kmph in the afternoon before dropping again in the evening. He added that similar conditions are likely to persist till January 1, 2026, due to the influence of a western disturbance.

In an advisory issued at 9 am, Delhi’s IGI Airport said flight operations were running smoothly as visibility improved, and urged passengers to check with airlines or visit the airport’s official website for updates.

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi (AQEWS), the capital’s air quality is expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the next several days, at least until Tuesday. Despite the sustained pollution levels, authorities have not changed restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), with Stages 1 to 3 remaining in force after the rollback of Stage 4 curbs last week.

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