New Delhi, Dec 31, 2025: Severe air pollution combined with dense fog brought transportation across Delhi-NCR to a crawl on Wednesday, affecting flights, trains and road traffic across the region.
Airport authorities said flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were being conducted under CAT III conditions due to low visibility, resulting in delays and cancellations. Ground staff were deployed to assist passengers amid the disruption.
“We regret the inconvenience caused and request passengers to remain in contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates,” the airport said in a statement.
Foggy conditions were reported from multiple locations, including Noida, Ghaziabad and central Delhi. Visuals from Akshardham, Indirapuram and areas near the Botanical Garden Metro Station showed thick fog blanketing roads and residential localities, forcing vehicles to slow down.
Air quality across the capital remained alarming. CPCB data showed Delhi’s overall AQI at 384 at 7 a.m., placing it in the ‘very poor to severe’ category. Several stations recorded ‘severe’ readings, including Anand Vihar at 452, ITO at 426 and Chandni Chowk at 419.
Other areas such as IGI Airport Terminal 3, Najafgarh and Aya Nagar reported AQI levels above 320, remaining in the ‘very poor’ range, officials said.
Rail traffic was also impacted, with several trains delayed due to poor visibility. Commuters at railway stations reported long waits as train movement slowed across sections of the network.
Weather officials said visibility conditions were expected to improve gradually later in the day, though pollution levels were likely to remain high.
