Delhi Chokes Under Smog: Hazardous AQI Levels, Flights Delayed, School Closures Demanded

Delhi air was hazardous Thursday morning, as the city had been covered with thick smog. The visibility was reduced and affects the daily life due to this smog. The Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated slightly overnight from 429 to 432 while many places crossed the 450 AQI mark, recording "severe" pollution conditions.

The worst-hit areas were Anand Vihar, 473; Patparganj, 472; Ashok Vihar, 471; and Jahangirpuri, 470. The dense smog also reduced visibility, which dipped to just 500 meters at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport by 6:30 a.m. Low visibility has already led to some delays, though, and IndiGo had put out an advisory asking travelers to check their flight status in advance, cautioning that "winter fog may affect flights to and from Delhi, Amritsar, and Varanasi." The airport issued a note later Tuesday stating that it is following low-visibility protocols and advising people making travel plans to consider extra time because of potential road delays.

The high levels of pollution are a health hazard for all, but especially those who already have respiratory disease. These conditions increase the possibility of suffering long-term problems from constant exposure to high AQI levels. Meanwhile, departing flights from IGI Airport were also delayed by an average of about 30 minutes, which reflected the impact of the thick smog on transportation.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva termed the Delhi government's performance while handling air pollution a "shame to democracy". Sachdeva said, "We are standing at Kartavya Path, and the AQI here is 474. We can't even see India Gate." Sachdeva claimed inefficient environmental policies, disturbed roads with dust and untreated CNG waste to have caused air quality to deteriorate. Major sources of pollution

He also emphasized crop stubble burning in Punjab and high PM 2.5 levels as the primary contributors to the pollution, suggesting complete school shutdowns and restriction on outdoor activities as pre-emptive measures.

Public health and transportation nuisances begin to weigh upon the minds of the government in Delhi as hazardous air quality continues to plague the city. The city administration may have to take more immediate steps like temporary school shutdown with high public awareness to curb the looming crisis.

Also read: Delhi Chokes Again: 'Severe' Smog Covers City, Schools on High Alarm as AQI Reaches Hazardous Levels