Dense fog continued to disrupt air and rail travel in Delhi and across the northern plains for the seventh consecutive day on Sunday, with weather agencies warning that reduced visibility and haze may continue for at least two more days.
According to aviation tracking data, more than 100 flights were cancelled and over 500 delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, adding to over 4,000 flight disruptions recorded in the past week. Train services were also affected, with over 50 trains running late under the Northern Railway network.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the prolonged foggy conditions to an active western disturbance, which also brought fresh snowfall to higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. The weather system is expected to weaken and move eastward by Tuesday, after which fog intensity may gradually decline.
Delhi woke up to thick haze on Sunday, with visibility dropping to as low as 200 metres at Safdarjung between 1.30 am and 2.30 am. At Palam, visibility hovered around 300 metres late Saturday night. The IMD classifies fog as “dense” when visibility ranges between 50 and 200 metres.
Despite a marginal improvement in air quality, pollution levels remained a concern. The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 377 at 4 pm on Sunday, slightly better than Saturday’s 398, but still within the “very poor” category for the 11th consecutive day.
Moderate fog was enough to disrupt airport operations, with IndiGo and Air India accounting for a large share of cancelled flights. IndiGo had earlier issued advisories warning passengers of possible delays due to foggy conditions in several cities, including Delhi, Amritsar, and Srinagar.
Rail services were also impacted, with delays ranging from 30 minutes to over six hours. Authorities advised passengers to check real-time updates before commencing travel.
Temperatures showed mixed trends, with the minimum settling at 9.4°C, higher than the previous day and above the seasonal average. The maximum temperature reached 18.1°C, remaining below normal but slightly warmer than Saturday.
Meanwhile, snowfall continued in parts of Jammu & Kashmir, including Gulmarg and Sonamarg, while Sadhna Pass received around six inches of snow. In Himachal Pradesh, the IMD forecast moderate to severe snowstorms in isolated areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, along with light to moderate rainfall in adjoining districts.
Weather experts said fog intensity is likely to reduce after December 24 due to the absence of active western disturbances. However, intermittent fog may persist, and January could see renewed spells of dense to very dense fog across north India, potentially leading to further travel disruptions.
