The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert on Monday for dense fog in the Delhi/NCR region. The air quality monitoring stations across the city reported alarming pollution levels, with the AQI reaching 285, according to CPCB data.
As per recent data, the AQI at Jahangirpuri was a concerning 346, while Nehru Nagar recorded 345. Patparganj reported an AQI of 344, closely followed by North Campus, Delhi University, at 314. Similarly, Narela and Mandir Marg recorded AQI levels of 313 and 308, respectively. Mundka showed an AQI of 297, with Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 293. Lodhi Road reported moderate levels with readings of 233 (IMD) and 181 (IITM), while NSIT Dwarka recorded a relatively lower AQI of 125.
Due to dense fog, several trains were delayed on Monday, with some cancellations also reported. The Purushottam Express faced the longest delay of 311 minutes, followed by the Poorva Express with a 198-minute delay. The Shramjeevi Express and the JBP NZM SF Express were delayed by 197 minutes and 187 minutes, respectively.
Other affected trains included the Rajendra Nagar Patna Tejas Express (delayed by 124 minutes), YPR Dee Duronto Express (154 minutes), and Suhaildev Express (105 minutes). The NDLS Humsafar and Kaifiyat Express experienced delays of 107 minutes and 68 minutes, respectively. Additionally, the Gondwana Express and YPR Sampark Kranti Express reported delays of 92 and 91 minutes, while the MP Sampark Kranti Express was delayed by 65 minutes.
In Uttar Pradesh, a thin layer of fog covered the Taj Mahal as a cold wave swept through the city.
On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted Stage-III measures under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after an improvement in Delhi’s air quality, following rainfall in Delhi-NCR on Saturday evening.
However, Stage I and Stage II measures remain in effect, with authorities urging continued vigilance to prevent further deterioration. This decision followed a review by the Sub-Committee on GRAP of current AQI levels and forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
