Nine Delhi-bound flights diverted as low visibility and smog disrupt air and rail services

Nine Delhi-bound flights were diverted to Jaipur and Dehradun on Monday due to low visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), officials said.

While eight flights were diverted to Jaipur, one flight was diverted to Dehradun.

The hazardous air quality conditions affecting Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) also led to disruptions in railway services. Several trains, including Purushottam Express, Shramjeevi Express, Jammu Mail, Punjab Express, INDP NDLS Express, UP Sampark Kranti Express, Sainik Express, Jammu Rajdhani Express, and Hirakund Express, were delayed as they arrived late at the railway station due to the thick fog and reduced visibility.

The heavy smog that blanketed the region is attributed to a combination of adverse weather conditions and high levels of air pollution. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi reached ‘severe plus’ levels, with a reading of 487 at 11 am on Monday.

AQI readings in various areas of Delhi showed alarming levels, with locations like Ashok Vihar, Mundka, Patparganj, and Anand Vihar all registering AQI values above 490. Other areas like Dwarka Sector 8 (50) and ITO (447) also recorded hazardous air quality levels, underscoring the widespread pollution crisis affecting the city.

In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 in Delhi-NCR starting today. The GRAP Stage 4 is a set of emergency measures designed to combat the pollution crisis, including a ban on non-essential truck traffic into Delhi and restrictions on the use of polluting vehicles.

The decision came after Delhi’s AQI sharply increased over the weekend, reaching 441 by Sunday evening and escalating to 457 by 7 PM, prompting an emergency meeting of the GRAP Sub-Committee. Under the new measures, trucks carrying non-essential goods will be banned from entering Delhi, with exceptions made only for those transporting essential items. Light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also face restrictions unless they run on cleaner fuels like electric or CNG.

Additionally, the Sub-Committee has also extended the ban on construction and demolition activities to include public infrastructure projects like highways, roads, flyovers, and power transmission lines.