Delhi-NCR wakes up to dense fog, AQI moderate to poor; flight operations at IGI Airport shifted to CAT III

NEW DELHI: Several parts of the national capital woke up to dense fog on Monday morning. The city’s air quality was also in the moderate category, with the AQI recorded at 188, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported moderate fog in multiple areas of Delhi. Dhaula Kuan, Akshardham, Dwarka, and Mother Teresa Crescent Marg were among the areas affected in the morning. The dense fog also impacted air travel, with flight operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport shifted to CAT III conditions, allowing aircraft to land in very low visibility but potentially causing delays to arrivals and departures.




Several monitoring stations across the city recorded moderate to poor AQI levels around 7 am. While Sectors 3, 6, and 10 in Dwarka reported AQI at 243 in the 'poor' category, areas such as Mahipalpur recorded 134 in the 'moderate' category. Mother Teresa Crescent Marg also remained in the 'moderate' category, with an AQI of 118.



Meanwhile, the NCR regions witnessed mist early in the morning with AQI remaining in the 'poor' category in Ghaziabad.

According to CPCB data, Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 259 n Monday morning.

In contrast, Mumbai reported a 'moderate' AQI at dawn, with readings at 126 around the Marine Drive area. The IMD forecasted "fog/mist in the morning and mainly clear sky later" for the city, and people were seen taking morning walks along Marine Drive amid the fog.

As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.

Several airports across north and central India also reported varying fog conditions, ranging from very dense to shallow fog between 6:00 am and 6:30 am IST, according to the IMD.

On Sunday, the air quality in Delhi had remained in the 'very poor' category in the morning, with the overall AQI at 318 around 8 am, according to CPCB.

The IMD had issued a yellow alert for the national capital, warning that isolated areas may experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. Similar conditions were expected across neighbouring Haryana and Chandigarh, where Karnal recorded a hailstorm early in the day.

The IMD stated that the rainfall marked the beginning of an active weather phase, with thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and hail likely to affect several states during the day. Light rain lashed parts of Delhi and adjoining NCR areas in the early morning hours.