A severe blanket of dense fog and toxic smog engulfed large parts of North India on Saturday, December 20, 2025, severely disrupting air travel and daily life. The capital, Delhi, faced a dual crisis of dangerously poor air quality and near-zero visibility, leading to significant flight disruptions at its main airport.
Delhi's Air Quality Plummets, Airport Issues Passenger Advisory
Residents of Delhi woke up to a thick layer of toxic smog, which significantly reduced visibility and caused widespread discomfort. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 384 at 8 am, categorizing it as 'very poor'. This marked a further deterioration from Friday's AQI reading of 374.
In response to the persistent low visibility, the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) issued a passenger advisory on Saturday. While the airport authority stated that flight operations were currently functioning normally with low visibility procedures in place, the previous day saw massive disruptions. Data from Flightradar24.com revealed that fog led to the cancellation of at least 177 flights, including some international services, and delays to nearly 500 flights on Friday.
Major Indian airlines were forced to respond to the crisis. Both Air India and IndiGo issued travel advisories, urging passengers to remain patient as services worked to return to normal. Air India specifically stated it would remain vigilant and make every effort to minimize fog-related disruptions, especially during the busy holiday travel season.
Intensifying Cold Wave Grips Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh
The harsh winter conditions were not limited to Delhi. On Friday, a dense fog cover spread across several areas in Punjab and Haryana, drastically reducing visibility and intensifying the cold wave.
Hoshiarpur emerged as the coldest place in Punjab, recording a minimum temperature of 4.8 degrees Celsius. Other major cities in the state also shivered: Amritsar logged a low of 9.3°C, while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded minimums of 10.6°C and 9.6°C respectively. The iconic Golden Temple in Amritsar was also shrouded in dense fog, as seen in photographs from December 19.
In neighboring Haryana, Ambala recorded a minimum temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius. The common capital of both states, Chandigarh, saw its mercury drop to 7.9 degrees Celsius.
Widespread Disruption and Health Concerns Across the Region
The combination of dense fog and severely degraded air quality has created a public health challenge across North Indian states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The 'very poor' AQI level in Delhi poses serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
The travel chaos at Delhi's IGI Airport, one of the busiest in the country, underscores the widespread impact of the weather phenomenon. With hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed, thousands of passengers have been left stranded or inconvenienced during a peak travel period. The situation highlights the annual struggle that fog inflicts on the aviation and transport infrastructure of the region.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with weather agencies forecasting similar conditions to persist in the coming days. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities, wear masks, and check flight status directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.
