Thu Nov 14 08:19:45 UTC 2024: ## Smog Engulfs Delhi, Disrupting Flights and Triggering Air Quality Concerns

**New Delhi, November 14, 2024:** Delhi’s air quality plunged into the “severe” category on Thursday, as a thick blanket of smog descended upon the national capital, causing widespread disruptions to flight operations at the Delhi Airport.

Flightradar 24 reported over 300 flight delays, with 115 arrival flights and 226 departure flights affected since midnight. The average delay for arrivals stood at 17 minutes, while departures faced a significant 54-minute average delay. While the airport attributed the disruptions to low visibility, it remains unclear whether all delays were solely due to weather conditions.

The Delhi airport issued an advisory for passengers, urging them to contact their respective airlines for updated flight information. IndiGo Airlines also issued a similar advisory for passengers travelling to and from Amritsar, Varanasi, and Delhi, advising them to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) reached 459 at 12 pm, marking a sharp increase from 418 the previous day. 32 out of 39 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded AQI levels exceeding 400, including Anand Vihar, IGI Airport, and Patparganj.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipates improved air quality, with increased wind activity potentially lowering pollutant concentrations and pushing the AQI to the “very poor” category.

Despite the severe air quality, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP 3) will not be implemented for now. The minister cited low wind speed as the primary contributor to the fog and assured that the government will take necessary steps if the situation worsens due to adverse weather conditions.

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