Delhi woke up to dense smog for the second consecutive day on Monday, with air quality remaining firmly in the &lsquo;severe&rsquo; category across the national capital. The overall Air Quality Index stood at 457 at 6 am, while sharply reduced visibility disrupted daily life and raised concerns over flight operations.
A thick haze blanketed the city through the early morning hours, severely restricting visibility in several areas. At the Indira Gandhi International Airport, visibility dropped to as low as 50 metres around 7 am, affecting flight schedules. Authorities and airlines cautioned passengers about possible delays and advised them to check flight status before travelling.
The weather office issued a dense fog warning for the morning and forenoon hours. Temperatures in the capital remained low, with the maximum recorded at 23&deg;C and the minimum at 8&deg;C.
Across the city, multiple locations reported hazardous pollution levels. Barakhamba Road recorded an AQI of 474, while Akshardham touched 493, both falling in the &lsquo;severe&rsquo; category. Dwarka Sector-14 also reported alarming conditions with an AQI of 469, as commuters struggled through poor visibility and toxic air.
Under pollution norms, AQI readings between 401 and 500 are classified as &lsquo;severe&rsquo;, with values of 450 and above considered &lsquo;severe plus&rsquo; for mitigation purposes. Although the index officially caps at 500, authorities warn that actual exposure levels can be even higher during prolonged episodes.
Flight operations at Delhi airport were impacted by dense fog and smog. Airport authorities warned of disruptions and said efforts were underway to minimise inconvenience. Airlines also issued advisories, citing low visibility and urging passengers to allow extra travel time due to slow-moving traffic caused by the haze.
Air quality worsened further over the weekend, with several monitoring stations touching the maximum AQI limit. Wazirpur, Rohini and Ashok Vihar recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 500, the highest measurable level. Data showed that nearly all monitoring stations in the city remained in the &lsquo;severe&rsquo; or &lsquo;severe-plus&rsquo; categories for extended periods on Sunday.
Among the most polluted areas were Jahangirpuri and Mundka with AQI readings of 499, followed by Bawana, Delhi Technical University, Vivek Vihar and Narela. Even the relatively better-performing Shadipur area remained in the &lsquo;very poor&rsquo; category, underlining the widespread nature of the pollution crisis gripping the capital.

A vegetable vendor pulls a cart during a cold and smoggy winter morning

Dense smog blankets capital again; visibility plunges, flight delays likely today

Delhi smog worsens as AQI stays severe

Dense smog blankets capital again; visibility plunges, flight delays likely today

December 15, 2025 | 17:01 IST