Delhi residents woke up to a hazardous cocktail of toxic smog and blinding fog on Friday, December 19, 2025. The national capital’s air quality remains in the ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Severe’ category, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 387 as of 8 am. However, over 14 monitoring stations across the city have already breached the 400-mark, triggering emergency protocols.
Flight Operations Hit: CAT III Protocols Activated
Dense fog has significantly disrupted operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
- Cancellations & Delays: Following a day where 27 flights were cancelled and over 500 were delayed, Friday morning continues to see disruptions. IndiGo has already cancelled over 53 flights (27 departures and 26 arrivals) specifically in its Delhi network.
- CAT III Landing: The airport has implemented CAT III low-visibility protocols, allowing specially trained pilots to land in visibility as low as 50 meters.
- Airlines’ Advisories: * Air India: Has activated its ‘FogCare’ initiative, allowing passengers to reschedule flights for free or opt for full refunds if their travel is impacted.
- IndiGo & SpiceJet: Have urged passengers to check real-time flight status before leaving for the airport as visibility plummeted below 100 meters in the early hours.
Top 10 Most Polluted Areas in Delhi (as of 8 AM)
The localized pollution levels have reached dangerous “Severe” heights in industrial and residential hubs alike:
| Area | AQI Value | Category |
| Anand Vihar | 437 | Severe |
| RK Puram | 436 | Severe |
| Sirifort | 432 | Severe |
| Dwarka Sector 8 | 420 | Severe |
| Dr. Karni Singh Range | 418 | Severe |
| Okhla Phase-II | 416 | Severe |
| Punjabi Bagh | 412 | Severe |
| ITO | 409 | Severe |
| Patparganj | 408 | Severe |
| Wazirpur | 404 | Severe |
New Curbs: GRAP Stage-IV and “No PUC, No Fuel”
With no immediate respite from the cold wave and stagnant winds, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all actions under GRAP Stage-IV.
- “No PUC, No Fuel”: In a major crackdown, fuel stations in Delhi are now strictly denying petrol, diesel, and CNG to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. Over 61,000 certificates were reportedly issued in the last 24 hours alone as motorists scrambled to comply.
- Transport Delays: Beyond aviation, at least 25 trains under the Delhi division are running late by 30 minutes to 7 hours due to zero-visibility conditions across North India.
- Health Advisory: Authorities have recommended that residents avoid outdoor exercise and wear N95 masks, as the “Severe” air quality can lead to respiratory illnesses even in healthy individuals.