Dense fog and haze engulfed the national capital on Saturday morning as temperatures dropped, with 16 flights being delayed at the Delhi airport. Officials said that 11 international and five domestic flights were delayed due to low visibility.
Meanwhile, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was also recorded at 447 which comes under the ‘severe’ category. Unfavourable meteorological conditions, including fog and haze, with low wind speed are the major causes behind sudden spike in daily average AQI, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said.
Authorities have reimposed curbs under stage-III of the Graded Action Response Plan and ordered a ban on non-essential construction activities plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR.
The city recorded a minimum temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius, and the IMD has predicted moderate fog during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 23 degrees Celsius, it said.
As the chill tightened its grip on the city, several people were seen huddling around bonfires and many sought refuge in night shelters, ANI reported.
