New Delhi: Delhiites woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Saturday morning, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging to 380, placing it in the ‘very
poor’ category. Reduced visibility due to dense smog led to delays in flight and train services across the national capital.
According to the data from the Central Pollution Control Board, 16 out of 40 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded ‘severe’ AQI levels early in the morning. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 428, with PM2.5 identified as the primary pollutant, while Jahangirpuri followed closely with a reading of 425.
Delhi smog today
#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals around the ITO area as a layer of toxic smog engulfs the national capital. CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) has invoked all actions under GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR.
AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 441, categorised as… pic.twitter.com/PZjSMUYHDx
— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025
Motorists drove carefully as visibility fell sharply across several areas. The lowest visibility recorded in Delhi till 8:30 am was 200 metres at Safdarjung, followed by 350 metres at Palam.
Orange alert issued
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense to very dense fog in Delhi and several northern states. The Air Quality Early Warning System has warned that Delhi’s air quality may worsen to the ‘severe’ category on Sunday and Monday. An orange alert has been issued for Saturday.
Flights and trains delayed due to low visibility
Delhi Airport issued an advisory asking passengers to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. Authorities confirmed that low-visibility procedures were in place due to fog and smog.
“Low Visibility Procedures are currently in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are functioning normally. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates,” the airport said. Runway visibility was reported to be between 800 and 1,200 metres.
Live data from Flightradar24 showed several flights running behind schedule. Air India had earlier warned passengers about possible disruptions due to dense fog in Delhi and parts of north and east India, including Amritsar, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna.
The airline said passengers booked during peak fog hours would receive alerts under its FogCare initiative, allowing free rescheduling or full refunds.
Rail services were also impacted, with more than 30 trains delayed by an average of three to four hours. The New Delhi–Bhubaneswar Tejas Rajdhani Express was running nearly eight hours late, while the Champaran Humsafar Express from Katihar to Delhi was delayed by over six hours.
