Delhi’s Air Turns ‘Very Poor’ as Haze and Fog Blanket City, Visibility Drops Sharply

Delhi woke up to a thick layer of haze and fog on Thursday, pushing the city’s air quality into the ‘very poor’ category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 357, up from 279 a day earlier, as calm winds and high humidity trapped pollutants near the ground, significantly reducing visibility. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), several parts of Delhi recorded “severe” pollution levels. Areas like Vivek Vihar (AQI 415) and Anand Vihar (AQI 408) were among the worst affected. In total, 33 monitoring stations across the city reported AQI readings above 300.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported visibility of 1,000 metres at Palam and 800 metres at Safdarjung at 7:30 a.m., both witnessing calm wind conditions. Key areas including Kartavya Path, Anand Vihar, Burari, and Akshardham remained shrouded in fog through the morning hours. Experts said Delhi’s ventilation index — an indicator of how easily pollutants can disperse — stayed below the ideal level of 6,000 m²/s, mainly due to weak winds (below 10 kmph) and high humidity (90%). The minimum temperature was recorded at 20.1°C, about four degrees above normal, while the maximum temperature is expected to be around 30°C. The IMD also predicted shallow fog to persist through the evening.