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Delhi Chokes as AQI Hits 346, Cold Wave and Dense Fog Grip North India

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category with an overall AQI of 346, with several monitoring stations recording levels above 370. The city is simultaneously grappling with a cold wave, with temperatures dipping to around 5.4 degrees Celsius. Dense to very dense fog has severely impacted northern India, causing zero visibility at airports in Amritsar, Chandigarh, and several other cities. This combination of poor air quality and fog raises significant concerns for public health and major disruptions to air and surface transport.

Key Points: Delhi AQI 346 in 'Very Poor' Range Amid Cold Wave and Fog

  • Delhi AQI at 346 in 'very poor' category
  • Anand Vihar, RK Puram areas exceed 370 AQI
  • Dense fog causes zero visibility at multiple airports
  • Cold wave brings temperatures down to 5.4°C
2 min read

Delhi records very poor air quality amid cold wave, AQI at 346

Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor' with AQI at 346. Dense fog causes zero visibility at several airports, disrupting travel across North India.

"Several airports across northern and eastern India witnessed severely reduced visibility due to dense to very dense fog - Official Data"

New Delhi, January 16

Delhi's air quality continued to remain a serious concern, with the overall Air Quality Index recorded at 346 at 7 am on Friday, placing it in the 'very poor' category, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Several areas across the national capital reported AQI levels above 300.

Anand Vihar recorded 354, Ashok Vihar 367, ITO 362, and RK Puram 374. Patparganj recorded an AQI of 372, Wazirpur 374, Chandni Chowk 370, and Dwarka Sector 8 369, according to CPCB data as of 7 am.

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

The national capital is also experiencing a cold wave, with temperatures dipping to around 5.4 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Several airports across northern and eastern India witnessed severely reduced visibility due to dense to very dense fog, according to official data reported at 05.30 AM.

According to the visibility report, airports in Amritsar, Adampur, Chandigarh, Pathankot, Hindon, and Saharanpur recorded zero metres of visibility, with very dense fog prevailing in these regions.

Extremely poor visibility was reported across Punjab, Chandigarh, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh, raising concerns about delays and disruptions in air and surface transport.

Palam reported 800 metres of visibility and Safdarjung 700 metres in Shallow fog today.

Meanwhile, moderate fog conditions were observed at several other locations. Varanasi and Jammu reported visibility of 200 metres, while Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh recorded 350 metres visibility. Kanpur and Gorakhpur saw visibility improve slightly to around 400 metres.

A day earlier, Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 352 at 8 am, placing in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The combination of cold wave and pollution is deadly. My morning walk has become impossible. We need stricter action on stubble burning in neighbouring states. It's a collective problem for North India, not just Delhi.
A
Aditya G
Living in RK Puram, the AQI here is always among the worst. The authorities need to identify local pollution hotspots and tackle them. Construction dust and vehicle emissions are rampant. Stay safe everyone, wear a mask!
S
Sarah B
The flight delays mentioned are a huge concern. I have family traveling and their flights are constantly rescheduled. Zero visibility in Amritsar and Chandigarh is alarming. Hope the fog lifts soon and the AQI improves.
N
Nikhil C
While the situation is bad, I must respectfully point out that we citizens also share responsibility. How many of us use public transport or carpool? We complain but are we ready to change our own habits? Just a thought.
M
Meera T
The elderly and people with asthma are suffering the most. My father hasn't stepped out in 3 days. The air purifier is running 24/7. This is no way to live. We need green solutions - more trees, sustainable policies. Jai Hind.

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