NEW DELHI: Dense fog blanketed Delhi on Saturday (January 18, 2025) morning, significantly reducing visibility and causing disruptions to train and flight schedules. The cold weather prompted many homeless people to seek shelter in night shelters across the city. On a brighter note, Delhi’s air quality saw a notable improvement, leading to the lifting of Stage-III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The thick fog disrupted normal life in the national capital and other parts of North India. Visibility issues caused delays in flights at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and trains at the New Delhi railway station.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi’s temperature dropped to 11.2°C at 5.30 am., adding to the chilly conditions. Despite the fog, air quality improved significantly, with the Central Pollution Control Board recording the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 248 at 7:00 a.m.

Air Quality Improvement Prompts Relaxation of Restrictions

The AQI categories range as follows:

0–50: Good
51–100: Satisfactory
101–200: Moderate
201–300: Poor
301–400: Very Poor
401–500: Severe

On January 17, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed Delhi’s AQI, which had fallen from "Severe" to "Very Poor." The AQI reading on January 16 stood at 302, comfortably below the Stage-III threshold of 350. Favorable weather, including strong winds, contributed to this improvement. While Stage-III restrictions have been lifted, Stage-I and Stage-II measures will remain in place to ensure sustained monitoring and prevent any worsening of air quality.

Night Shelters Offer Relief Amid Chilly Weather

As temperatures dipped, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) set up 235 pagoda tents across the city to provide warmth and safety for the homeless. Night shelters were set up in several areas, helping those in need escape the biting cold.

Foggy Conditions Grip Other Parts of North India

Thick fog was also reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh Mela is underway. Over 7 crore devotees have already taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers—during the first four days of the 45-day festival.

In Ayodhya, near the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, people gathered around bonfires to keep warm as temperatures continued to drop.