New Delhi: The national capital woke up to a punishing Saturday morning on January 17, 2026, battling a toxic combination of freezing temperatures, dense fog, and hazardous pollution. For the sixth consecutive day, a cold wave gripped the city, with the base weather station at Safdarjung recording a minimum temperature of 4.4°C, well below the seasonal average. Simultaneously, the worsening air quality has forced authorities to reimpose strict GRAP Stage-III measures effective immediately.
The Cold & Fog: “Near-Zero” Visibility
While the minimum temperature rose marginally from yesterday’s 4.3°C, the “wind chill factor” made it feel significantly colder.
- Visibility: Dense fog blanketed the city from 4:00 AM onwards. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported visibility dropping to 150-200 meters at Palam and Safdarjung airports, with isolated pockets reporting “near-zero” visibility.
- Flight Operations: The dense fog triggered CAT-III Low Visibility Procedures at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. While operations continued, passengers faced delays due to the slow movement of aircraft on the ground.
- Forecast: The IMD has issued a Yellow Alert, predicting that while the cold wave may slightly abate (with minimums rising to 6-8°C by Monday), dense fog will persist during morning hours.
The Pollution Spike: GRAP-III Returns
Adding to the misery, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply overnight.
- AQI Levels: The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 368 (Very Poor) at 9:00 AM. Specific hotspots like ITO (402) and Chandni Chowk (427) breached the “Severe” mark.
- Restrictions Reimposed: Citing the “unfavorable meteorological conditions” and lack of wind speed to disperse pollutants, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reinstated Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
What GRAP-III Means for You:
- Construction Ban: A strict ban on non-essential construction and demolition work.
- Vehicle Curbs: Ban on BS-III Petrol and BS-IV Diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR. Violators face a fine of ₹20,000.
- School Timings: State governments may decide to discontinue physical classes for primary schools (Classes up to 5).
Key Highlights Box:
- Min Temp: 4.4°C (Safdarjung), 4.7°C (Palam).
- AQI: 368 (Very Poor) avg; 400+ (Severe) in hotspots.
- Visibility: <200m (Dense Fog).
- Alert: Yellow Alert (Cold Wave & Fog).
- Action: GRAP-III Implemented (No BS-III Petrol/BS-IV Diesel cars).
FAQ Section:
A1: Under Stage-III, the state government can choose to shift classes up to Grade 5 online, but no official closure order has been issued as of 11:00 AM today. Parents should check official school communications.
A2: Not entirely. While the IMD predicts a slight rise in temperature (up to 7°C) by tomorrow, the “chill factor” will remain due to high humidity and fog. Another dip is expected around Jan 23-26.
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AUTHORSHIP & TRANSPARENCY
- Sign-off: Reported by KittoNews City Desk | Edited by Senior Editor Gowhar Nabi.
- Source Transparency: Verified via IMD Daily Bulletin, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Real-time Data, and Delhi Airport Advisories (Jan 17, 2026).
- Disclaimer: Weather and pollution data change rapidly. Commuters are advised to check live traffic and flight status before stepping out.
- Accountability Footer: Found an update we missed? Email kittonews@gmail.com.
