India, Dec. 15 -- Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Monday too, with air quality remaining firmly in the 'severe' category across the national capital. The Air Quality Index (AQI) reading overall stood at 457 at 6 am, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, as visibility dropped sharply in several areas.

Flights from Delhi were also likely to be affected as both the airport and airlines issued advisories.

Visuals from across the city showed a dense haze hanging in the air, making it difficult to see even a short distance ahead.

In the early hours, visibility plunged to as low as 50 metres at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport around 7 am, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The IMD h...