New Delhi [India], December 27: With temperatures dropping and light rainfall affecting the city, Delhi Airport authorities issued an advisory on Friday, informing passengers that low visibility procedures are still in effect. However, they clarified that flight operations remain unaffected.
Passengers have been advised to reach out to their respective airlines for the latest flight information. Delhi Airport’s official statement on X said, “Low Visibility Procedures are still in progress at Delhi Airport. However, there has been no impact on flight operations. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.”
Earlier in the day, light rain, accompanied by a layer of fog, reduced visibility in several parts of the national capital. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded on Friday was 12 degrees Celsius, with a maximum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The IMD also forecast thunderstorms with rain for Friday and Saturday, with additional showers expected throughout the day.
A local resident, Deepak Pandey, shared, “The weather has become pleasant, like Kashmir. It is cold, but the rain has helped reduce pollution levels.”
Despite the improved weather, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with an AQI of 371 as of 7 a.m. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI at various locations was as follows: Anand Vihar – 398, IGI Airport (T3) – 340, Aya Nagar – 360, Lodhi Road – 345, ITO – 380, Chandani Chowk – 315, and Punjabi Bagh – 386.
On December 24, the central government’s air quality monitoring panel lifted Stage IV (‘Severe+’) restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi and the NCR after air quality showed signs of improvement. However, measures under Stages I, II, and III remain in place to prevent further deterioration, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The improvement in air quality was attributed to favorable meteorological conditions, including increased wind speed, as reported by the IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).