Dense Fog Disrupts Delhi-NCR as IMD Issues Orange Alert, AQI Hits Severe

Very dense fog engulfed Delhi-NCR as the IMD issued an orange alert. Over 128 flights were cancelled, schools shut in Noida, and Delhi’s AQI plunged to the severe category.

TezzNews

Dec 29, 2025 - 20:32

Dec 29, 2025 - 20:39

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Dense Fog Disrupts Delhi-NCR as IMD Issues Orange Alert, AQI Hits Severe

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for very dense fog in the national capital, warning of extremely low visibility conditions. Daytime and nighttime temperatures in Delhi are expected to remain around 22°C and 7°C, respectively. Similar alerts have also been issued for parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

On Monday, large areas of Delhi-NCR witnessed severe disruption as a thick blanket of fog reduced visibility to nearly zero, bringing daily life to a standstill. The weather conditions led to major disturbances in air traffic, road transport, and school schedules, while air quality levels deteriorated sharply amid the persistent cold.

Flight Operations Disrupted

The dense fog caused widespread disruption at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where at least 128 flights—including 64 arrivals and 64 departures—were cancelled. In addition, eight flights were diverted to alternate airports.

An Air India Express flight that departed from Goa’s Mopa Airport at 11:55 pm on Sunday and was scheduled to land in Delhi at 2:35 am was diverted to Ahmedabad after being unable to land due to poor visibility. Jaipur, which often serves as an alternate airport, also faced congestion as several flights had already been diverted there.

Airline IndiGo issued a travel advisory cautioning passengers that fluctuating visibility conditions were impacting flight schedules and that operations might proceed slower than usual.

Schools Shut, Traffic Movement Slows

In Noida, dense fog has persisted since late Sunday evening, severely limiting visibility across the district. As a precautionary measure, the district administration declared a holiday for all schools due to the intense cold and hazardous conditions.

Visibility on key roads has dropped dramatically. The Noida–Greater Noida Expressway recorded sharp declines in visibility, while conditions on the Yamuna Expressway deteriorated to near-zero levels, making driving extremely difficult. Traffic movement slowed considerably across several stretches, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Air Quality Slips to Severe Category

Alongside the fog, Delhi’s air quality worsened significantly, slipping back into the ‘severe’ category on Monday morning after a brief improvement last week.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 403 as of 7 am. Anand Vihar recorded the worst pollution levels with an AQI of 459.