Delhi, Jan 5, 2026: Several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Guwahati, woke up to dense fog and poor air quality on Monday, disrupting air travel and raising pollution concerns.

Air Quality Status

• By 9 AM, Delhi recorded an AQI of 256 (‘Poor’ category), according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Local hotspots saw worse conditions:
  • Akshardham: AQI 294 (‘Poor’)
  • ITO: AQI 256 (‘Poor’)
  • Anand Vihar: AQI 320 (‘Very Poor’)
  • Chandni Chowk: AQI 337 (‘Very Poor’)

Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were lifted on Friday, but authorities urged residents to continue following Stage I and II measures to prevent further deterioration. Construction and demolition activities remain regulated.

Flight Disruptions

• Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport experienced multiple flight delays due to low visibility caused by dense fog.
• IndiGo issued an advisory for Leh as snowfall temporarily suspended flight operations, affecting both take-offs and landings. The airline asked passengers to check flight status and said boarding might begin in advance to ensure readiness once clearance is given.

“Due to snowfall in Leh, flight operations, both take-offs and landings, have been temporarily put on hold. This may lead to extended wait times both onboard and on the ground. We are closely monitoring the weather and will get you on your way as soon as conditions allow,” the advisory read.

Other Cities

• Mumbai: Hazy morning; AQI 132 (‘Moderate’) at Bandra Kurla Complex and Bandra Reclamation.
• Guwahati: Cold and foggy morning with a minimum temperature of 14°C; AQI 72 (‘Satisfactory’).

Authorities will continue to monitor weather and air quality through forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), taking further action as necessary.

Residents are advised to stay indoors if possible, use masks outdoors, and check flight statuses before heading to airports.

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