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Delhi's Air Quality Hits "Very Poor" Amid Cold Wave and Dense Fog

Delhi welcomed the New Year with "very poor" air quality, recording an AQI of 371, with several stations like Anand Vihar exceeding 400. The India Meteorological Department has forecast dense to very dense fog to persist over Delhi and large parts of North India until at least January 7. Despite the hazardous air and reduced visibility, security personnel continued Republic Day parade rehearsals at India Gate. Temperatures in Delhi are expected to remain appreciably below normal, with cold wave conditions compounding the public health challenge.

Key Points: Delhi AQI Hits 371, Fog Disrupts North India | CPCB Data

  • AQI hits 371 in Delhi
  • Anand Vihar station records 418
  • Dense fog forecast till Jan 7
  • Republic Day rehearsals continue despite conditions
2 min read

Delhi's air quality plummets to 'very poor'; capital wakes up with cold wave, fog

Delhi's air quality plunges to "very poor" with AQI of 371. Dense fog blankets North India as IMD issues warnings till January 7. Republic Day rehearsals continue.

"Delhi recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 371 at 8 pm, placing it firmly in the 'very poor' to 'severe' category. - Central Pollution Control Board"

New Delhi, January 1

Delhi's air quality dropped to the 'very poor' category on Thursday, with an Air Quality Index reading of 371 recorded around 8:00 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, on the very first day of the New Year 2026.

According to data from CPCB, Delhi recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 371 at 8 pm, placing it firmly in the 'very poor' to 'severe' category.

Several monitoring stations across the capital reported alarming pollution levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 418, while Wazirpur stood at 414. Rohini reported an AQI of 413, followed by Ashok Vihar at 392. Siri Fort recorded 384, RK Puram logged 381, Chandni Chowk registered 377, and ITO stood at 371.

Despite the deteriorating air quality and reduced visibility due to dense fog, preparations for the upcoming Republic Day celebrations continued at India Gate, with security personnel and participants seen rehearsing for the grand parade.

According to the IMD (India Meteorological Department), dense to very dense fog is expected to persist over Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi till January 5, while East Uttar Pradesh is likely to witness similar conditions till January 2. West Rajasthan is expected to remain under dense fog conditions till January 3, 2026.

The weather agency further stated that dense fog conditions are also likely during night and morning hours at isolated pockets over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and Jharkhand till January 2.

In addition, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to witness dense fog conditions till January 5.

The IMD also forecast dense fog over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi till January 7, while west Rajasthan may experience similar conditions till January 4. East Rajasthan is expected to remain under foggy conditions between January 2 and January 4.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh is likely to witness dense fog till January 1, with a fresh spell expected again during January 4 and 5. Gangetic West Bengal may experience dense fog conditions till January 3, according to the IMD.

The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to be in the ranges of 14°C to 16°C and 9°C to 11°C, respectively, on Thursday. The minimum temperature will be above normal (2°C to 4°C) and the maximum temperatures will be appreciably below normal over Delhi, as stated by IMD.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Anand Vihar at 418! That's practically unbreathable. The combination of severe cold and this toxic air is a nightmare for daily commuters like me. Kudos to the security personnel rehearsing for Republic Day in these conditions though. Jai Hind!
A
Aman W
The fog forecast for North India is extensive. Travel plans are getting disrupted. While the article focuses on Delhi, we in Punjab and Haryana are also suffering. It's not just a capital problem, it's a regional crisis needing a coordinated solution.
S
Sarah B
Living in Delhi for 3 years now. The AQI numbers are shocking, but honestly, we've become numb to them. Everyone just wears masks and carries on. The real cost is on public health in the long run. We need stricter enforcement on waste burning and construction dust.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, the article could have highlighted what common citizens can do *today*. We can't wait for policy changes. Carpool, use public transport, avoid fireworks, and report pollution violations. Small steps by millions matter. Let's not just complain, let's act.
K
Karthik V
The data is clear, but where is the urgent action? With Republic Day around the corner, I hope the parade preparations include measures to protect the participants from this air. It's a matter of national pride to ensure their health and safety.

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