Thick Smog Blankets Delhi Amid Poor Air Quality; 10 Flights Diverted Due to Zero Visibility at IGI

New Delhi: As many as 10 flights were diverted and several others were delayed at the Delhi airport on Wednesday (Nov 13) due to low visibility, officials said.

According to the officials among these 10, one flight was diverted to Jaipur while another was to Lucknow.

This comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that very dense fog began forming around 5:30 am, resulting in a thick haze over different parts of the national capital. Air quality continues to be in a "very poor" category with dropped down to 361, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.

The AQI in Anand Vihar dropped down to 399, 382 in Punjabi Bagh, and 376 in Ashok Vihar at 8 am as per the CPCB.

Residents have complained of low visibility on the roads and have also been experiencing irritation in their eyes, running nose, breathlessness and cough.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court on Monday said that the right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere is a fundamental right of every citizen under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and no religion encourages any activity that creates pollution.

Questioning the authorities for their failure to implement the ban on firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali , a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih further said that if firecrackers are burnt in this fashion, it also affects the fundamental right to health of the citizens. "

The right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere is a fundamental right of every citizen, which is protected by Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Prima facie, we are of the view that no religion encourages any activity that creates pollution or compromises the health of people. If firecrackers are burnt in this fashion, it also affects the fundamental right to health of the citizens," said the bench.

(Inputs from PTI)