Delhi Under Siege: Toxic Smog and “Severe” AQI Disrupt the Capital

Delhi Chokes: Visibility Drops Below 800m as AQI Slams into “Severe” Category

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• Midnight to Dawn: The 2:17 AM Smog Surge That Paralyzed Rail Services

• The “Zero Zone”: Why 16 Out of 40 Stations Reported Hazardous Air at 7 AM

• Transit Turmoil: Over 30 Trains Delayed as IGI Airport Activates CAT III Protocols

• Health Warning: Why PM2.5 is the Main Villain in Today’s Severe Air Crisis

• Beyond the Horizon: The “Orange Alert” and the Threat of an Even Worse Sunday

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The national capital woke up to a vanishing horizon today. The thing is, a thick, toxic blanket of smog has effectively shut down the city’s early-morning rhythm.

Actually, the AQI hit a dismal average of 380, but that’s just the polite version. Specifically, half the monitoring stations in the city are flashing “Severe” (400+) on their screens.

As a result, if you’re driving near Pragati Maidan, it feels like navigating a grey void. Consequently, the IMD has been forced to issue a warning for “very dense fog” that won’t just lift with the sunrise (I checked this twice).

And here’s the kicker. It’s not just a “breathing” problem—it’s a “moving” problem.

Basically, the visibility at IGI Airport has been hovering between 800 and 1200 meters, triggering the specialized CAT III landing procedures. Instead of a smooth holiday schedule, passengers are facing a “ripple effect” of delays. In fact, Air India’s “FogCare” initiative is already working overtime to handle cancellations.

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And then Y followed. Over 30 trains, including the Tejas Rajdhani, are running up to eight hours late because the locomotive pilots simply cannot see the signals through the haze.

• Hazard Hotspots: Anand Vihar (428) and Jahangirpuri (425) are currently the most dangerous places to breathe.

• PM2.5 Dominance: Fine particulate matter is the lead pollutant, making the air especially heavy and toxic.

• Rail Delays: Trains from Bihar and Odisha are the hardest hit, with the Champaran Humsafar trailing by 6+ hours (those too).

• Airport Status: While technically “functioning,” the airport advisory urges everyone to call their airline before leaving home.

Moreover, the situation is set to get uglier. Specifically, the Air Quality Early Warning System predicts that the smog will solidify into the “Severe” category by Sunday and Monday.

Actually, the “orange” alert isn’t just for Delhi—it stretches across Punjab, Haryana, and even down into Madhya Pradesh. As a result, the entire Indo-Gangetic plain is currently a giant, unventilated room filled with smoke. Consequently, any hope for a “clear” Christmas week is looking pretty slim right now.

The thing is, we’re entering the “Deep Winter” phase of the pollution cycle. In fact, stagnant winds mean that all the vehicle exhaust and industrial smoke are just sitting there, waiting for us to inhale them.

Basically, until a fresh Western Disturbance brings some rain, we are stuck in this loop. Instead of a tidy wrap-up, just keep your eyes on the “Live Runway Visibility” data—it’s the only true gauge of when the city will start moving again.

And then Y followed. Every time the AQI crosses 400, the government’s GRAP measures get stricter, meaning we might see more vehicle bans by Monday evening…

Also Read | Tamil Nadu Voter List Purge: 97 Lakh Names Deleted in SIR Phase 1

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