Delhi air quality stays ‘poor’ near 300; Fog disrupts over 170 flights

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated again on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering near the upper end of the ‘poor’ category, even as cold conditions intensified across the city. The AQI stood close to 299 during the morning hours, reflecting a sharp rise from Saturday’s average levels.

Weather conditions contributed to the worsening air, as calm winds and high moisture trapped pollutants near the surface. The relative humidity touched 92% in the morning, while shallow to moderate fog was reported in the early hours, adding to pollution-related concerns.

The foggy conditions also disrupted air traffic at the national capital’s airport. At least 170 flights were delayed on Sunday morning, largely due to weather-related disruptions at other airports in north India, which affected overall flight schedules despite stable visibility in Delhi itself.

The minimum temperature dipped further to 7.4 degrees Celsius, around half a degree below normal, under the influence of cold northwesterly winds. The weather office has warned that cold wave conditions may affect isolated parts of the city till January 6, keeping daytime temperatures subdued.

Air quality forecasts indicate little immediate relief. The AQI is expected to remain in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ range over the coming days, raising health concerns for vulnerable groups and keeping authorities on alert for possible pollution-control measures if conditions worsen further.