NEW DELHI: A layer of fog blanketed Delhi on Saturday morning, reducing visibility and disrupting traffic. Similar foggy conditions were reported across other parts of North India.
In Delhi, flight and train operations were affected, with delays recorded at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and New Delhi Railway Station.
The India Meteorological Department reported that the temperature in the national capital was 11.2°C at 5.30am.
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Air quality in Delhi showed significant improvement, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 248 at 7am, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. This falls under the ‘poor’ category on the AQI scale, which ranges from ‘good’ (0–50) to ‘severe’ (401–500).
Following this improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted Stage-III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on January 17. The GRAP Sub-Committee noted that Delhi’s AQI had dropped from “Severe” to “Very Poor,” with a reading of 302 on January 16. Favourable meteorological conditions, including strong winds, played a key role in this improvement. However, Stage-I and Stage-II measures will remain in place to ensure air quality does not deteriorate further.
Meanwhile, night shelters across Delhi continued to provide refuge to homeless people braving the cold. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has established 235 pagoda tents at various locations to help those in need.
Elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh, a thick fog covered Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh is underway. Over 7 crore devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam—the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—within the first four days of the 45-day event.
In Ayodhya, as temperatures dropped further, residents were seen huddling around bonfires near the Ram Janmabhoomi temple to keep warm.
