Severe Fog Disrupts Air Travel in Delhi-NCR: IMD Issues Red Alert

A thick fog blanket has enveloped northern India, prompting the IMD to issue a red alert for Delhi-NCR. Visibility has dropped to zero in several areas, leading to the cancellation of numerous flights and significant delays at Delhi Airport. Passengers are advised to stay informed about their flight statuses as airlines implement measures to assist travelers. The IMD has also warned of potential accidents due to low visibility and has urged residents to take necessary precautions. The air quality in the region remains in the 'very poor' category, raising further concerns. Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 19, 2025, 13:11 IST

Impact of Dense Fog Across Northern India

On Friday morning, a thick layer of fog spread from Punjab to Bihar, significantly reducing visibility in the Indo-Gangetic plains. In response, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi, warning that road, rail, and air traffic could be affected. Satellite images revealed dense fog covering Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northeastern Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.

Visibility Records in Various Regions

At 5:30 AM, zero visibility was recorded in several locations, including Agra, Bareilly, Saharanpur, and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Ambala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana, and Adampur in Punjab; Safdarjung in Delhi; Ambala in Haryana; Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh; Bhagalpur in Bihar; and Daltonganj in Jharkhand.

Air Travel Disruptions in Delhi

The IMD's red alert indicated potential disruptions at airports due to fog, affecting highways and railway routes as well. On Friday, flight operations in Delhi were once again impacted as dense fog severely hampered visibility. Reports indicated that 79 flights were canceled at Delhi Airport, including several international flights. According to data from a flight tracking website, over 230 flights experienced delays, with an average departure delay of 49 minutes.

Assistance for Passengers

"Rest assured, our on-ground staff are present at all terminals to assist passengers and provide necessary support. We apologize for any inconvenience caused," stated an official. Additionally, IndiGo, India's largest airline, which faced disruptions earlier this week, issued an advisory for its passengers, stating that its teams are monitoring the situation and coordinating with air traffic authorities. They added, "Wherever possible, we are making operational adjustments to minimize inconvenience and ensuring customer support is available at all major touchpoints."

Air India and SpiceJet Advisory

Last night, Air India also released a similar advisory, mentioning proactive measures taken to reduce disruptions. The airline confirmed that ground staff would be available around the clock to assist passengers. Meanwhile, SpiceJet urged travelers to keep track of their flight status.

Non-CAT-III Flights May Face Challenges

DIAL clarified that landing and take-off at Delhi Airport are ongoing, but flights not adhering to CAT-III regulations may be affected. CAT-III is an instrument landing system approach that allows aircraft to land in very low visibility conditions, such as fog, rain, or snow, with a runway visual range of 50-200 meters.

Red Alert and Air Quality Concerns

Due to the dense fog covering much of northern India, the IMD issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR and an orange alert for several districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Agra, Aligarh, Baghpat, Bareilly, Bijnor, Bulandshahr, Etah, Etawah, Firozabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, and others. An orange alert was also issued for Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand, as well as Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Patiala, and Sangrur in Punjab. Residents were advised to stay indoors due to the risk of accidents from low visibility.

Precautions Advised by IMD

The IMD recommended that residents in affected areas remain vigilant and take necessary precautions, including being cautious while driving or traveling by any means, using fog lights, checking road and traffic conditions, staying in contact with airlines, railways, and state transport authorities regarding travel plans, avoiding unnecessary travel, and following advisories issued by relevant agencies.

Air Quality Index Remains Poor

On Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR was recorded in the 'very poor' category at approximately 382. Authorities believe that the AQI will remain in the 'very poor' category until Saturday and may even reach the 'severe' category by Sunday.