New Delhi, Dec 31 (NationPress) The last morning of 2025 began on a dismal note for the residents of Delhi-NCR, as thick fog, severe cold, and poor air quality combined to disrupt daily life across extensive areas of North India.

A significant drop in temperature, extraordinarily low visibility, and high pollution levels severely affected road, rail, and air travel, leading to delays and inconvenience for thousands of commuters and travelers.

Minimum temperatures in the NCR region were reported between 6 degrees Celsius and 9 degrees Celsius, worsening the cold wave conditions. From the break of dawn, a dense fog enveloped the national capital, with visibility in numerous areas plummeting to nearly zero. Key routes such as Anand Vihar, ITO, AIIMS, Ashoka Road, India Gate Circle, and Mahatma Gandhi Marg experienced extremely poor visibility due to the mixture of fog and smog, compelling vehicles to crawl along the roads. Motorists heavily relied on fog lights, while traffic congestion was reported on several major roads.

The dense fog also disrupted air traffic operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Taking to social media platform X, airport authorities issued a passenger advisory, stating: “Due to the ongoing dense fog conditions, flight operations are currently being conducted under CAT III protocols, which may cause delays or cancellations. Our ground teams are on-site, actively assisting passengers to ensure a smooth travel experience. For the latest flight updates, please contact your respective airlines. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

CAT III operations enable aircraft to land in extremely low visibility, but often lead to slower flight movements and scheduling disruptions. Consequently, numerous arrivals and departures experienced delays during the morning hours.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, also issued a travel advisory on X, cautioning passengers about potential disruptions across northern India. The airline stated: “Foggy conditions are present across Delhi and several airports in northern India this morning. If visibility issues continue, flight departures and arrivals may face impacts as the day unfolds.”

The airline emphasized that it was closely monitoring the situation and making operational adjustments to minimize inconvenience. Passengers were advised to verify their flight status before heading to the airport and allow extra travel time, as fog could also hinder road traffic.

Weather experts have warned that foggy conditions may linger in the coming days, urging travelers to be cautious. Authorities have recommended that individuals avoid unnecessary movement during early morning hours and stay updated through official advisories as winter conditions tighten their grip on the region.