Already reeling under a cold wave since the beginning of the New Year, residents in the national capital on Wednesday woke up to another chilly and polluted morning.
As many as 10 flights, scheduled to depart from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), was delayed because of dense fog, sources informed on Wednesday.
According to VK Soni, Scientist of the Indian Metrological Department (IMD), from Tuesday evening, following the temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers by the Delhi government, the air quality is expected to improve.
Foul air has returned to haunt residents in the national capital, amid the ongoing severe cold wave conditions, which prompted the Met department to issue a red alert for biting cold on Saturday.
Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) suddenly and unexpectedly spiked and clocked 400 on Friday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Delhi's AQI is also forecast to remain likely in the 'very poor' category till January 13. The fog has reduced visibility all over North India and Delhi airport issued a fog alert for passengers. Many trains are also running late owing to the .dense fog
Delhi air stood at 'very poor' category on Wednesday with Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 353, as per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
According to IMD, the lowest visibility was reported on Tuesday till 5:30 am from areas Bathinda (00m), Amritsar, Ganganagar, Patiala, Delhi (Palam) and Lucknow (25m), Delhi and Purnea (50m), Ambala and Agra (200m), Gorakhpur (300m), Bareilly, Patna, Gaya and Kolkata (500m).