Dense fog conditions in Delhi-NCR over the next few days may disrupt flight operations, prompting airlines to issue advisories for passengers. Air India said poor visibility at its primary hub in Delhi, along with a few airports in northern and eastern India, could impact schedules and cause a cascading effect across its network. The airline has advised passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport and said it has put proactive measures in place to minimise fog-related disruptions. It added that ground staff will assist passengers in case of delays or cancellations, while its ‘FogCare’ initiative will send advance alerts and allow affected travellers to reschedule flights or seek full refunds without penalty.
Delhi-NCR AQI LIVE: In a slight relief for residents of the national capital, Delhi’s air quality showed marginal improvement on Wednesday, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) moving down to the “very poor” category, even as dense smog continued to blanket the city. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI stood at 334 at 4 pm on Wednesday, improving from 354 recorded on Tuesday.
However, pollution levels remained alarmingly high at several monitoring stations. The AQI was recorded at 437 at 4 pm on Tuesday and 370 at 8 am on Wednesday. Highlighting the contrast between Delhi and Beijing, the Chinese Embassy shared AQI readings on social media platform X to showcase Beijing’s progress in tackling severe air pollution.
“Both China and India are grappling with air pollution challenges amid rapid urbanisation,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing said on Monday evening, posting comparative screenshots of air quality levels in Beijing and its surrounding areas versus those in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The disparity was striking. While Beijing reported an AQI of 68, indicating moderate air quality, Delhi-NCR recorded a hazardous AQI of 447, underscoring the severity of the pollution crisis in the Indian capital.
Stay tuned to News24 for all the latest and live updates on Delhi AQI.
The new measures, which will come into force on Thursday, are in addition to the GRAP-4 restrictions imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management after the city recorded ‘severe’ AQI levels for three straight days starting Saturday, December 13.
Following a sharp deterioration in air quality that pushed Delhi’s Air Quality Index into the ‘severe’ category this week, the Delhi government announced a series of tighter restrictions. These include shifting offices to a hybrid work model, banning vehicles transporting construction materials, and making a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate mandatory.
As Delhi and large parts of northern India remain engulfed in toxic smog, air quality levels in the national capital continued to stay in the severe range, with the AQI recorded at 437 at 4 pm on Tuesday and 370 at 8 am on Wednesday. Against this backdrop, the Chinese Embassy shared a post on X highlighting Beijing’s relative success in tackling long-standing air pollution challenges.











