Thu Nov 14 04:09:18 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Chokes Under Severe Air Pollution, Visibility Reduced at Airport
**New Delhi, November 14, 2024:** Delhi woke up to a blanket of smog on Thursday morning, with the city’s air quality remaining in the ‘severe’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 a.m. was 428, marking the second most polluted major city in the world, as per IQAir’s live data.
32 out of 39 monitoring stations across the city recorded air quality in the ‘severe’ category, with readings exceeding 400. This includes key areas like Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, and IGI Airport.
The air pollution is expected to persist throughout Thursday, with a slight improvement to the ‘very poor’ category anticipated on Friday. This severe air quality poses serious health risks, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions.
The city also experienced its coldest morning of the season so far, with the minimum temperature reaching 16.1 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal.
Poor visibility due to the smog forced the Delhi airport to implement low visibility procedures for flight operations. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) reported that all flights were currently operating normally despite the conditions. However, airlines like IndiGo have issued travel advisories for potential flight disruptions due to fog in Amritsar, Varanasi, and Delhi.
On Wednesday, several flights were delayed and diverted due to low visibility.
The deteriorating air quality in Delhi is a recurring issue, particularly during the winter months. Factors contributing to this include vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and seasonal factors like crop burning in neighboring states.
First Piper 