Delhi-NCR Chokes Under Dense Smog and Fog, Flights Disrupted as Visibility Drops to Near Zero

Delhi and the National Capital Region woke up to another harsh winter morning on Tuesday. Dense smog and fog covered the region, reducing visibility to dangerous levels.

Normal life was disrupted across several parts of the NCR. In many areas of Ghaziabad and Noida, visibility dropped close to zero. The situation highlighted the severity of winter conditions across north India.

At Indira Gandhi International Airport, flight operations were severely impacted as thick fog reduced visibility sharply.
Observations from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed that general visibility at the airport was just 50 metres around 8:00 am IST.
As a result, over 200 flights were delayed and at least 10 flights were cancelled by Tuesday morning.

Visibility plunges across NCR, commuters face trouble

Poor visibility extended well beyond the airport, affecting major roads and residential areas across Delhi and neighbouring NCR cities.
Early-morning commuters faced slow-moving traffic and risky driving conditions, while passengers using rail and air services encountered repeated delays and rescheduling.

Traffic police across NCR urged motorists to use fog lights, maintain safe distances and avoid unnecessary travel during early morning hours.

Air quality remains in ‘severe’ category

Along with fog, air pollution levels in the capital continued to worsen. By 8 am, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 414, placing it firmly in the ‘severe’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) via its Sameer app.

Health experts warn that such hazardous air can trigger respiratory distress, eye irritation and cardiovascular complications, particularly among children, senior citizens and people with pre-existing illnesses.

No immediate relief expected for air quality

Forecasts indicate that pollution levels are unlikely to improve in the coming days. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has projected that the AQI will remain in the ‘very poor’ category from December 22 to December 24. From December 25 onwards, air quality is expected to fluctuate between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ for nearly a week, dampening hopes of relief during the Christmas period.

Fog to persist in coming days, says IMD

According to the IMD, weather conditions will continue to support fog formation during morning hours. In its latest bulletin, the weather office said the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy over the next 24 hours, turn mainly clear for the following three days, and then become partly cloudy again.

“Shallow fog is likely during morning hours on December 24 and 25, while moderate fog may prevail thereafter,” the IMD stated. Dense to very dense fog has also been forecast at a few places in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, with isolated pockets in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh and Rajasthan.

Temperatures inch up slightly

Despite worsening pollution and fog, temperatures in Delhi have shown only minor changes. Officials noted a rise of around 1–2 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures over the past day, while minimum temperatures remained largely steady.

Maximum temperatures hovered between 16°C and 18°C, while minimum temperatures ranged from 8°C to 11°C, offering little respite from the harsh winter conditions.

Flight disruptions may continue

The dense fog has already caused large-scale travel disruptions across north India in recent days. On Sunday, more than 500 flights were delayed and at least 107 were cancelled as fog spread across the northern plains.

Officials attributed the ongoing disruptions to a western disturbance that recently brought fresh snowfall to parts of Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. “As the system weakens from Wednesday, wind speeds are expected to increase, which should gradually reduce fog intensity,” an official said.

Until conditions improve, authorities have advised residents to limit outdoor activity during early mornings and stay updated on travel advisories as Delhi-NCR continues to grapple with severe winter smog and fog.