Delhi Shivers Amid Dense Fog On New Year's Day, AQI Plummets To 'Very Poor' Category

New Delhi: Delhi's air quality dropped to the 'very poor' category on Thursday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 371 recorded around 8:00 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), on the very first day of the New Year 2026.

According to data from CPCB, Delhi recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 371 at 8 pm, placing it firmly in the 'very poor' to 'severe' category.

Several monitoring stations across the capital reported alarming pollution levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 418, while Wazirpur stood at 414. Rohini reported an AQI of 413, followed by Ashok Vihar at 392. Siri Fort recorded 384, RK Puram logged 381, Chandni Chowk registered 377, and ITO stood at 371.

Despite the deteriorating air quality and reduced visibility due to dense fog, preparations for the upcoming Republic Day celebrations continued at India Gate, with security personnel and participants seen rehearsing for the grand parade.

According to the IMD (India Meteorological Department), dense to very dense fog is expected to persist over Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi till January 5, while East Uttar Pradesh is likely to witness similar conditions till January 2. West Rajasthan is expected to remain under dense fog conditions till January 3, 2026.

The weather agency further stated that dense fog conditions are also likely during night and morning hours at isolated pockets over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and Jharkhand till January 2.

In addition, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to witness dense fog conditions till January 5.

The IMD also forecast dense fog over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi till January 7, while west Rajasthan may experience similar conditions till January 4. East Rajasthan is expected to remain under foggy conditions between January 2 and January 4.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh is likely to witness dense fog till January 1, with a fresh spell expected again during January 4 and 5. Gangetic West Bengal may experience dense fog conditions till January 3, according to the IMD.

The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to be in the ranges of 14°C to 16°C and 9°C to 11°C, respectively, on Thursday. The minimum temperature will be above normal (2°C to 4°C) and the maximum temperatures will be appreciably below normal over Delhi, as stated by IMD.

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