Delhi: Delhi and the surrounding NCR region were engulfed in an intense blanket of smog early Monday morning, sharply reducing visibility and pushing air pollution levels to alarming highs. The sudden deterioration disrupted road traffic across the capital, with vehicles crawling along major roads and flyovers as drivers struggled with extremely low visibility.
Weather officials issued an orange alert for dense fog during the morning hours, warning commuters to exercise caution. Several areas in the capital reported visibility dropping to critically low levels, while parts of western Uttar Pradesh experienced near-zero visibility, compounding travel difficulties during peak hours.
Air quality remained firmly in the hazardous range, with pollution levels hovering in the ‘severe’ category. Monitoring stations across Delhi continued to record dangerously high readings, underlining the growing health risk for residents. Experts attributed the worsening conditions to stagnant winter winds and a sharp drop in temperature, which trapped pollutants close to the surface.
The situation had already been deteriorating over the weekend, with pollution steadily rising day after day. Officials acknowledged that the capital is currently witnessing its worst air quality spell of the season, though a slight improvement was tentatively expected later in the day depending on weather conditions.
Amid the crisis, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) raised concerns over civic lapses, particularly criticising poor road upkeep. The commission pointed out that unclean and dusty roads continue to significantly add to particulate pollution during winter, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement and accountability by civic bodies.
