Dense fog Engulfs Agra, Taj Mahal Fades from View
Multiple parts of Delhi experienced dense haze, with pollution levels remaining alarmingly high
Agra: The Taj Mahal appeared to vanish behind a thick veil of fog on Sunday morning as dense mist enveloped Agra, sharply reducing visibility across the city. Visuals from the Taj View Point ADA showed the iconic monument barely visible.
Similar conditions were witnessed in Ayodhya, where a dense layer of fog covered the city during the early morning hours. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature in Ayodhya was recorded at 8 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 16 degrees Celsius.
Moradabad also woke up to foggy conditions as a cold wave swept through the region. The IMD reported that the minimum temperature in Moradabad stood at 10 degrees Celsius, with the maximum expected to reach around 19 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the national capital experienced a sharp dip in temperatures along with a thick layer of toxic smog on Sunday morning, significantly impairing visibility and affecting daily life.
The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 390 around 7 am, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several areas, however, saw air quality deteriorate further to ‘severe’ levels.
Multiple parts of Delhi experienced dense haze, with pollution levels remaining alarmingly high. In the Akshardham area, the AQI stood at 438, categorised as ‘severe’.
Similar conditions were reported from the Ghazipur area, where AQI levels were also recorded at 438, as per CPCB data. In Central Delhi, India Gate and Kartavya Path were shrouded in thick smog, with the AQI recorded at 381, falling in the ‘very poor’ category.
East Delhi’s Anand Vihar locality was among the most polluted areas, with AQI levels touching ‘severe’ at 438. The ITO area also remained under a blanket of smog, recording an AQI of 405, categorised as ‘severe’.
Around the Barapullah flyover, the AQI was recorded at 382, categorised as ‘very poor’, while similar conditions prevailed in the Dhaula Kuan area, where the AQI stood at 397, also falling under the ‘very poor’ category.
In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV across Delhi-NCR.
The restrictions under GRAP-IV include a ban on non-essential construction activities, restrictions on the entry of certain diesel vehicles, and enhanced enforcement measures to curb pollution sources.
According to AQI categorisation, levels between 0–50 are considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.