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Thick Fog Obscures Taj Mahal, Northern India Grapples with Severe Air Quality

Dense winter fog has severely reduced visibility across Northern India, completely obscuring the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. The fog has compounded air quality issues, with Delhi's AQI reaching 402 and entering the "severe" category, while Noida recorded even higher readings above 430. Multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur and Prayagraj, are grappling with thick fog and moderate to poor air quality, though conditions are worse in the NCR. The cold wave and fog are causing widespread discomfort for residents and hazardous driving conditions, with the situation monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Key Points: Dense Fog and Poor Air Quality Hit Taj Mahal, Delhi, UP Cities

  • Taj Mahal visibility lost
  • Delhi AQI hits severe 402
  • Noida sectors record AQI above 400
  • Multiple UP cities under dense fog
2 min read

Thick fog clouds visibility of Taj Mahal, multiple cities in UP grapple with dense fog

Severe fog blankets Northern India, obscuring the Taj Mahal and plunging Delhi's AQI into "severe" levels above 400. Multiple cities report hazardous conditions.

"Delhi's air quality worsened at 8 am, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 402, slipping into the 'severe' category. - Central Pollution Control Board"

Agra, December 29

With the mercury dipping dense fog gripped cities across Northern India, the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, lost visibility due to the presence of a thick layer of fog in the town.

In Agra, the morning temperature was 16.0 °C. The city's air quality was poor this morning, reporting 'moderate' conditions in pockets. The Manoharpur area reported an AQI of 234. In contrast, Rohta and Shahajahan Garden reported AQIs of 136 and 186, respectively, placing them in the 'moderate' category, according to CPCB data.

Besides Agra, multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh grappled with a dense layer of fog due to a cold wave on Monday morning. In Kanpur, thick fog enveloped the city as cold conditions prevailed, though the overall air quality remained 'moderate', falling in the 101-200 range. Prayagraj also reported similar conditions, with a dense layer of fog and moderate air quality within the same range.

However, Noida and Ghaziabad recorded poorer air quality than other cities in the state due to thick fog. In Noida, air quality was severe this morning, with Sector-125 recording an AQI of 408 and Sector-116 at 438. Ghaziabad reported slightly better conditions, with the AQI in the 'very poor' range of 301-400. In both Noida and Ghaziabad, the maximum temperature was 17.0 °C in the morning.

Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, Haridwar was blanketed by a layer of winter fog, reducing visibility and causing discomfort to residents. Dehradun recorded a poor AQI of 261 this morning.

Earlier today, Delhi's air quality worsened at 8 am, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 402, slipping into the "severe" category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several areas across the city recorded AQI levels exceeding 400. A dense fog also blanketed the capital, sharply reducing visibility, with many motorists driving with their headlights on, as residents faced discomfort due to the conditions.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Driving in Noida this morning was a nightmare. Visibility was almost zero. AQI 438? That's not just fog, that's poisonous smog. When will we get serious about stubble burning and vehicle emissions? This happens every single winter.
A
Aman W
Stay safe everyone, especially the elderly and children. The cold wave plus this poor air quality is a dangerous combination. Please wear masks if you have to go out. Our authorities need to issue proper health advisories.
S
Sarah B
I'm visiting from Canada and in Agra right now. It's truly disheartening. You travel across the world to see a monument of such beauty and history, and you can't even see it through the haze. It highlights a global environmental issue.
K
Karthik V
While the article focuses on visibility, the real story is the "severe" AQI in our capital and NCR. Fog is natural in winter, but this toxic smog is man-made. Our policies are failing. We need sustainable, long-term solutions, not just temporary fixes.
M
Meera T
It's the same story every year in North India. My heart goes out to all the daily wage workers, traffic police, and auto-rickshaw drivers who have to be out in this all day. Their health is paying the price.

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