New Delhi, Dec 31 The final morning of 2025 began on a challenging note for residents of Delhi-NCR as dense fog, biting cold and hazardous air quality severely disrupted normal life across the region.
A sharp dip in temperatures, coupled with near-zero visibility and elevated pollution levels, impacted road, rail and air traffic, causing widespread delays and inconvenience for commuters and travellers.
Minimum temperatures across the NCR hovered between 6 and 9 degrees Celsius, intensifying cold wave conditions. From the early hours, a thick blanket of fog enveloped the national capital, reducing visibility to dangerously low levels in several areas.
Key locations, including Anand Vihar, ITO, AIIMS, Ashoka Road, India Gate Circle and Mahatma Gandhi Marg, witnessed extremely poor visibility due to a mix of fog and smog, forcing vehicles to move at a slow pace. Motorists relied heavily on fog lights, while traffic congestion was reported on several arterial roads.
Air traffic operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were also affected. In a passenger advisory issued on social media platform X, Delhi Airport authorities said that flights were operating under CAT III protocols due to dense fog, which could lead to delays or cancellations.
The advisory added that ground teams were actively assisting passengers and urged travellers to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates, while expressing regret for the inconvenience caused.
CAT III operations enable aircraft to land in extremely low visibility conditions but often result in slower movement and scheduling disruptions. Consequently, several arrivals and departures were delayed during the morning hours.
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, also issued a travel advisory, cautioning passengers about possible disruptions at Delhi and other northern airports. The airline said foggy conditions were prevalent across the region and warned that departures and arrivals could be affected if low visibility persisted.
IndiGo added that it was closely monitoring the situation and making operational adjustments to minimise inconvenience. Passengers were advised to check flight status before leaving for the airport and allow additional travel time, as road traffic was also impacted by fog.
Weather experts have warned that foggy conditions are likely to continue over the next few days. Authorities have urged commuters to remain cautious while travelling, avoid unnecessary early-morning movement and stay updated through official advisories as winter conditions continue to tighten their grip on North India.
