Delhi Airport: Flight operations hit hard due to low-visiblity

As the pollution levels plunged into hazardous territory on Sunday in the national capital, airline services were hit hard with as many as 32 flights being diverted from the Delhi airport. Owing to the low visibility, as Delhi has been covered in a blanket of smog, flight operations were severely affected on Sunday. Authorities released an official statement which said, CAT-II pilots are able to operate, however, flight operations were affected in Delhi. 

Delhi remains unbreathable

Authorities, on Sunday, also advised passengers to contact their concerned airlines to stay updated with the flight information. For the first time this season, Delhi witnessed the worst air quality and remained unbreathable as the Air Quality Index (AQI) notched up a reading of 625 at around 10 am in the morning. In Dhirpur, the AQI was 509, while in Delhi University area the reading was 591. Chandni Chowk witnessed a reading of 491 whereas Lodhi Road saw 537. 

READ | Delhi Air Pollution: AQI Cross 'hazardous' 600 Mark, Visibility Drops

Construction ban in Noida

Meanwhile, the Noida Authority conducted checking at various construction sites in the Gautam Budh Nagar area and arrested 27 people for flouting the construction ban. "The construction is banned in Noida from November 1 to 5. We have conducted checking at sector 75, 35 and 72. We have arrested 27 people for flouting the ban. We will continue to conduct checks at construction sites," said an official from Noida Authority.

READ | Delhi: Public Reacts To Deteriorating Air Quality Due To Pollution

Government response

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Friday announced a string of measures aimed at curbing ar pollution. This includes the reintroduction of the Odd-Even scheme from November 4 to 15, 2019 and staggered office timings for government offices. Kejriwal has also asked the Capt Amarinder Singh government in Punjab and Manohar Khattar government in Haryana to do more to combat rampant stubble burning in their state.

READ | IMD Predicts Rainfall In Delhi After Nov 6 Amid Hazardous Air Quality

READ | Share Of Stubble Burning In Delhi's Pollution Down To 17 Pc From 44 Pc

(With ANI Inputs)