Dense fog and smog continue to wreak havoc with winter in North India. Yesterday, India-South Africa fourth T20 match at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow was canceled due to dense smog. In Delhi-NCR too, there was a thick blanket of fog and mist in the morning, due to which visibility reached close to zero. At the same time, vehicles are crawling on the roads due to dense fog and mist.
Many areas of Delhi-NCR have been covered with dense fog since late Wednesday night, due to which visibility has become zero. Highway vehicles are crawling due to dense fog, due to which the risk of accidents has increased. Speed limits were reduced on routes like Yamuna Expressway, NH-48. Air India, Indigo issued advisory to check flight status. More than 100 flights were affected in the past few days. Apart from this, IMD has also given warning of dense fog in Punjab, Haryana, UP.
According to IMD, there will be light to dense fog in the morning from 18th to 20th December. Low visibility procedures are in place at the airport, flights are being delayed and cancelled. Trains are also running late. AQI remains between ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’, due to which people are facing difficulty in breathing.
#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as a layer of toxic smog continues to blanket the national capital.
AQI here is 349 categorised as ‘very poor’ as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) has invoked… pic.twitter.com/jud08b6UUp
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— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2025
GRAP IV implemented in Delhi-NCR
A thick layer of toxic smog was seen around the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the AQI was recorded at 349 in the ‘very poor’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI of many areas in Delhi ranges from ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed all GRAP Stage-IV measures in Delhi-NCR, which include construction ban, vehicle restrictions and other strict measures.
Appeal to people to wear masks
In view of the dangerous level of pollution, the Health Department has appealed to the people to wear masks and be careful while going out. This mixture of pollution and fog is dangerous for health.
T20 match canceled in Lucknow
At the same time, due to dense smog in Ekana Stadium of Lucknow on Wednesday, the match had to be canceled without toss. Where AQI had crossed 400. It is being told that this decision was taken keeping in mind the low visibility and threat to the safety of the players.
After the cancellation of the match, people have raised questions on BCCI’s Tours and Fixtures Committee for scheduling international matches in North and East India during the peak winter. People are also criticizing the decision to hold day-night matches in Lucknow because fog and smog are common in winter.
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