Five Delhi-bound flights were diverted to Jaipur and Dehradun on Monday due to poor visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi, sources confirmed. Of these, four flights were rerouted to Jaipur, and one to Dehradun.
The dense fog and smog affecting Delhi-NCR also led to disruptions in railway services, with several trains delayed. Among the trains running behind schedule were the Purushottam Express, Shramjeevi Express, Jammu Mail, Punjab Express, INDP NDLS Express, UP Sampark Kranti Express, Sainik Express, Jammu Rajdhani Express, and Hirakund Express.
The severe fog conditions are attributed to a combination of adverse weather and high levels of air pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi reached hazardous ‘severe plus’ levels, with the CPCB reporting an AQI of 487 at 11 am.
Locations like Dwarka, Ashok Vihar, Mundka, and Patparganj recorded AQI levels between 480 and 495, well into the ‘severe plus’ range.
In response to the worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 in Delhi-NCR. The decision followed a sharp rise in the AQI, which hit 441 by 4 PM on Sunday and escalated to 457 by 7 PM, prompting an emergency meeting.
The Stage 4 measures include restricting truck entries into Delhi, except for those carrying essential goods and services. Additionally, non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel trucks are prohibited. Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi, excluding electric and CNG models, are also banned. Furthermore, construction and demolition activities, including public infrastructure projects like highways and power transmission lines, have been suspended to curb pollution.