Toxic smog blankets Delhi as severe air pollution disrupts daily life and travel
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Health experts tell residents to limit outdoor activities and wear masks. Delhi was engulfed by a thick blanket of hazardous smog on Friday, causing alarm over disruption to air travel and damage to public health. The Indian capital city’s air quality degraded to the extent that visibility was reduced to almost zero in some areas, resulting in train and flight delays.
![[People sit next to a fire at a market area on a cold winter morning in the old quarters of Delhi]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/03/06/2025-01-03T041404Z_430102967_RC222CADHF4H_RTRMADP_3_INDIA-WEATHER.jpg)
The live pollution rankings published by Swiss air quality monitor IQAir listed Delhi ranked as the third most polluted capital on Friday. Although no flight cancellations were reported, a Delhi airport spokesperson warned that planes without special equipment for low-visibility landings could face difficulties.
![[People sit next to a fire at an open ground on a foggy winter morning in the old quarters of Delhi]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/03/06/2025-01-03T041402Z_586167234_RC222CASWDI0_RTRMADP_3_INDIA-WEATHER.jpg)
Airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet also warned of potential delays due to the worsening weather conditions. By 10.14am, the aviation tracking website FlightRadar24 reported an average delay of eight minutes for 20 flights. Train services within Delhi were also affected, with delays reported on multiple routes.
![[A man wrapped in a blanket sits inside a temporary shelter on a foggy winter morning in the old quarters of Delhi]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/03/06/2025-01-03T041407Z_806801180_RC222CAV7BLZ_RTRMADP_3_INDIA-WEATHER.jpg)
The air quality index in New Delhi reached 351 on Friday, putting it well outside the "good" range. AQI is a measure of five major air pollutants and is considered “good” when under 50. AQI above 400 is considered “severe”, meaning the smog should be considered harmful to even healthy individuals and outdoor activity should be avoided where possible.
