Flights Cancelled At Delhi Airport As Dense Smog Cuts Visibility

Air quality in Delhi-NCR deteriorated sharply on Monday morning, with the AQI touching 456, placing the capital in the ‘severe’ pollution category for the second-worst day of the season, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an ‘orange’ alert for dense smog as visibility dropped sharply across the city.

Flight operations were significantly affected due to poor visibility. At least 100 flights were cancelled, and over 300 delayed at Delhi airport, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.

Major airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, issued advisories warning passengers of possible delays and urged them to allow extra travel time as road traffic remained slow because of the haze.

Rail services were also disrupted, with over 90 trains delayed by six to seven hours owing to low visibility, NDTV reported.

In response to the worsening pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), enforcing the strictest pollution-control measures, including a complete ban on construction and demolition activities across Delhi-NCR.

Amid the pollution emergency, the Supreme Court registry advised lawyers and litigants to opt for video-conference hearings where possible. The Delhi government also ordered 50% work-from-home for offices, while schools up to Class 11 (except Class 10) were directed to run in hybrid mode.