A deadly combination of dense fog and “severe” air pollution brought the national capital to a crawl on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Residents woke up to a thick layer of toxic smog that reduced visibility to near zero in several parts of Northern India, triggering large-scale disruptions in flight and train operations.
Travel Chaos: Flights and Trains Hit
Adverse weather conditions have severely impacted India’s busiest travel hubs.
- Aviation Crisis: Over 200 flights have been delayed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport so far on Sunday. While airport authorities stated at 10:00 AM that operations were “normal,” the Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued a separate advisory warning of widespread delays and operational changes across North Indian airports.
- Railways Stalled: Northern Railways reported that over 50 trains are running behind schedule due to the persistent fog, with visibility dropping to as low as 200 meters in areas like Safdarjung and Palam during the early morning hours.
- Airline Advisories: Major carriers, including IndiGo and Air India, have urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to allow extra time for travel and formalities.
Choking on Air: AQI Touches “Severe” Levels
Delhi’s air quality continued its downward spiral on Sunday, moving from “very poor” to the “severe” category in several monitoring zones.
| Location | AQI (recorded Sunday morning) | Category |
| Anand Vihar | 438 | 🔴 Severe |
| Akshardham | 438 | 🔴 Severe |
| Ghazipur | 438 | 🔴 Severe |
| ITO | 405 | 🔴 Severe |
| India Gate | 381 | 🟠 Very Poor |
The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 390 around 7:00 AM, but local variations showed a far grimmer picture. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has kept GRAP Stage-IV measures in place, which include a ban on non-essential construction and restrictions on polluting vehicles.
Weather Outlook: Cold Day Conditions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
- Temperature: The city recorded a minimum temperature of 9.4°C, reflecting “cold day” conditions due to the lack of sunlight penetrating the thick smog.
- Forecast: Forecasters warn that dense to very dense fog is likely to persist during overnight and early morning hours for at least the next 48 hours. A western disturbance expected to hit the region soon could potentially shift the pollution levels further.