The story so far:

Delhi and the NCR are facing longer and more intense heatwaves, with the city increasingly retaining heat even at night. Rapid urbanisation, concrete-heavy infrastructure, air conditioning, and shrinking green cover have turned the Urban Heat Island Effect into a deeper “heat re-trap”.

Why is Delhi retaining heat?

This transformation is rooted in the city’s material logic. Concrete, asphalt, steel, and glass dominate Delhi NCR’s expansion. These materials absorb heat efficiently but release it slowly.

Roads, rooftops, and facades accumulate heat through the day and emit it at night, delaying cooling. Surface temperatures in dense areas reach 50-60°C on peak afternoons. These surfaces act as reservoirs, keeping the surrounding air warm well into the night. The city, in effect, stores the sun.

Glass-heavy architecture in areas such as Gurgaon and Noida worsens the problem by allowing solar radiation indoors, increasing reliance on air conditioning rather than reducing heat.

Vehicular activity adds constant thermal input. Corridors like NH-48 function as continuous heat sources, where engines and exhaust combine with heat-absorbing asphalt to create persistent hotspots. Over time, these form into thermal corridors that reshape the city’s microclimate.

At the same time, Delhi struggles to release heat. High-density construction and narrow streets restrict airflow, while traditional cooling features — courtyards, shaded pathways, ventilation corridors — have largely disappeared. As a result, air stagnates and heat accumulates within the city’s form.

How does cooling contribute to warming?

While interiors are cooled, heat is expelled outdoors. In dense neighbourhoods, this raises ambient temperatures by 1-2°C.

This produces a feedback loop: rising temperatures increase the demand for cooling, which in turn releases more heat outside. The city cools itself internally while warming externally.

The energy burden is also significant. Delhi’s peak electricity demand has crossed 8,000 MW during the summer, with cooling accounting for a significant share. Nationally, cooling demand is projected to grow nearly eightfold by 2050, increasing pressure on power systems and raising the risk of outages during extreme heat.

How is heat affecting the economy and ecology?

Factories and warehouses operate within specific temperature limits; excessive heat reduces efficiency and affects machinery. Productivity declines by 2-3% for every degree rise above optimal levels, leading to delays and higher costs.

Supply chains are also slowing as transport hours shrink and storage conditions deteriorate. 

At a broader level, India loses over $100 billion annually due to the decline in heat-related productivity.

Ecologically, the city has lost natural cooling systems. Shrinking green cover, degraded wetlands, and the loss of the Yamuna floodplains have reduced evapotranspiration. Without vegetation and water bodies, Delhi’s ability to regulate temperature has weakened.

What measures are needed to address the crisis?

Addressing this crisis requires structural change in how cities are built and managed. Materials must shift toward high-albedo surfaces, cool roofs, and reflective coatings. Buildings need insulation and passive design strategies like shading and cross-ventilation.

Urban planning must restore airflow through ventilation corridors and better street orientation. Green and blue infrastructure — including urban forests, parks, and water bodies — must expand as essential cooling systems.

Reducing heat generated by human activity is equally important. Sustainable transport, electric mobility, and improved public transit can lower vehicular emissions. Energy-efficient appliances and district cooling systems can reduce heat discharge.

Equally critical is social protection. Affordable housing upgrades, subsidised cooling, and community cooling centres are necessary to protect vulnerable populations during extreme heat.

(Suksham Tanu is a sustainability and environmental studies enthusiast based in Dubai; Amir Hyder Khan is a final-year B.Arch student at Jamia Millia Islamia)

Published – May 11, 2026 08:30 am IST

The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday (April 4, 2026) witnessed fresh snowfall as a spell of wet weather gripped north India, bringing rainfall to parts of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Rains and hailstorms have continued to lash the northern States intermittently this week, with wheat growers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan staring at major losses due to crop damage.

The national capital, meanwhile, witnessed rain during the night between Friday (April 3, 2026) and Saturday (April 4, 2026) in isolated areas. However, the maximum temperature in the city dropped due to persistent cloudy conditions throughout the day.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the snowfall also led to the closure of many important inter-district roads, officials said.

The Met Office warned of brief but intense heavy showers in isolated parts, which may lead to flash floods and landslides at a few vulnerable places and waterlogging in a few low-lying areas.

Sadhna Top and other higher reaches in Kupwara, Mughal Road in Shopian, Margan Top connecting Anantnag with Kishtwar, and Razdan Top, Gurez, and Tulail in Bandipora district, received fresh overnight snowfall.

The Affarwat mountain in Gulmarg tourist resort, the Sonamarg-Zojila axis, and some other hilly areas of the valley also received snowfall.

The plains of the valley, including the summer capital Srinagar, received rains, they added.

The wet weather brought down the day temperature across the valley as people had to layer up to battle the fresh cold.

Similarly, both maximum and minimum temperatures decreased in Himachal Pradesh, with light to moderate rain and snowfall observed in several areas.

The Shimla Meteorological Office has issued an orange alert for hailstorms, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds of 40 to 50 kmph in the Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) and Wednesday (April 8, 2026).

In the higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu, fresh snowfall was witnessed over the past 24 hours since Friday (April 3, 2026) evening. The weather department also predicted a wet spell in the state till April 10.

In the national capital, the minimum temperature rose to 20.7°C, which is 1.9 degrees above normal and 1.5 degrees higher than the previous day. In contrast, the maximum temperature reached 32°C, two degrees below normal and one degree lower than the day before.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet, said, “This is due to the presence of a cloud cover, as a result of which lesser heat penetrates during the day and lesser heat escapes from the earth’s surface at night.” Additionally, the air quality in Delhi showed significant improvement due to fresh showers and gusty winds the day before. The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was reported at 137 (moderate) at 4 p.m. on Saturday (April 4, 2026), compared to an AQI of 266 (poor) recorded at the same time on Friday (April 3, 2026), according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

According to CPCB standards, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.

In Punjab, the average maximum temperature dropped by 0.7°C compared to a day before, staying 2.6 degees below normal, while in Haryana, it saw a fall of 0.9 degree and stayed 1.8°C below normal.

Rainfall was recorded in Pathankot, Rupnagar, Amritsar, Fazilka, Ferozepur in Punjab, as well as Haryana’s Mahendragarh and Yamunanagar.

Parts of Rajasthan recorded rainfall and gusty winds over the past 24 hours due to a cyclonic circulation with more thunderstorms and hail activity forecasted for the region in the coming days, the IMD said on Saturday (April 4, 2026).

“A new and strong western disturbance is likely to become active over parts of Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions from the afternoon of April 6, leading to a high possibility of thunderstorm and rainfall activity in some areas,” the IMD said.

The impact of the cyclone is expected to peak on April 7. “Under its activity, several parts of Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Jaipur, Bharatpur and Kota divisions are likely to experience strong thunderstorms, gusty winds of 50-60 kmph, moderate to heavy rainfall and isolated hailstorms,” it said. “Farmers are advised to cover harvested crops and grains kept in open areas or shift them to safe storage to prevent damage due to rain and hail,” the weather office said.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot demanded immediate financial assistance for farmers affected by unseasonal rain and hailstorms in parts of the State, saying the damage has caused a crisis for farmers.

“In some parts of the State, unseasonal rain and hailstorms have brought disaster upon farmers. Wheat and isabgol crops have been damaged in Bikaner division, while in Nagaur, crops like isabgol, cumin, wheat and fennel have suffered heavy losses,” he said.

The IMD on Friday (April 3, 2026) said temperatures are likely to remain below normal or near normal over most parts of the country in the next few days.

In March, eight western disturbances impacted the country, against the normal of five or six, it said.

Delhi saw a colder start to February, compared to last year, with the maximum temperature settling at 24.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

The maximum temperature on Sunday (February 1, 2026) is lower than last year’s 26.2 degrees Celsius while 2.3 notches above the seasonal average, according to official data.

According to the weather department, the minimum temperature settled at 12.1 degrees Celsius, about 3.7 degrees above the season’s average.

At Safdarjung, the city’s principal observatory, the minimum temperature settled at 12.1 degrees Celsius, while Palam recorded 10.6 degrees Celsius.

Lodhi Road logged 11.8 degrees Celsius, the Ridge 12.1 degrees Celsius and Ayanagar 11.6 degrees Celsius.

Maximum temperatures in the city ranged from 22.6 to 24.6 degrees Celsius.

Among the stations, Safdarjung recorded the highest maximum temperature at 24.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Ayanagar at 23.6 degrees Celsius and the Ridge at 23.6 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road logged a high of 23.7 degrees Celsius, and Palam recorded 22.6 degrees Celsius.

The relative humidity stood at 82% at 5:30 p.m.

According to the IMD, rainfall over northwest India, including Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh, is likely to remain below the Long Period Average in February.

Long Period Average refers to the average rainfall or temperature for a region, calculated using weather data from around thirty years, and is used as a benchmark for normal climatic conditions for a given period.

The weather department has forecast above-normal minimum and maximum temperatures during the month, indicating fewer cold nights and warmer afternoons as winter conditions recede earlier than usual.

Meanwhile, air quality in the national capital slipped in the “poor” category, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 265, which was about 315, indicating “very poor” during the day.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast that the AQI is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ range from February 1 to 3.

The weather department has predicted moderate fog for Monday (February 2, 2026), with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 21 degrees Celsius and 11 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh see fresh snowfall, rains; night temperatures rise across North

Parts of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh received fresh snowfall and rains on Sunday (February 1, 2026), even as night temperatures rose across the northern States.

Snowfall was witnessed in the higher reaches of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Qazigund area of Kulgam district, while many areas in south Kashmir, including Srinagar city, were hit by rains.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar city settled at 2 degrees Celsius on Saturday (January 31, 2026) night, up from 0.1 degrees Celsius the night before, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district, which recorded a low of minus 7 degrees Celsius, was the coldest in the Union Territory.

Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, up from minus 2.6 degrees the previous night.

In Qazigund, the minimum temperature settled at 0.4 degrees, while Kokernag recorded zero degree Celsius and Kupwara minus 1.7 degrees Celsius.

A 20-day Chillai Khurd (small cold) began on Saturday, after the culmination of the 40-day harshest winter period, or Chillai-Kalan. Chillai Khurd will be followed by the 10-day Chillai Bachha (baby cold), officials said.

The IMD has forecast light rain and snow in the higher reaches at many places of Kashmir on February 2-3, they said.

Himachal Pradesh, where a yellow alert has been issued, witnessed light snowfall along with rain on Sunday.

Shillaroo in Shimla district and Kothi in Kullu district witnessed 5 cm snow, while Kufri received 4 cm, Gondhla village in Lahaul and Spiti 3 cm, Khadrala in Shimla 2.5 cm, Sangla in Kinnaur 2.1 cm and Kalpa 0.8 cm.

Manali received the highest rainfall in the state at 10 mm, followed by Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur district at 7.8 mm. Shimla received 4.2 mm rain, Solan 3.4 mm, Nadaun 2.6 mm and Nahan 2.4 mm.

The lowest temperature in Himachal Pradesh was minus 3.6 degrees Celsius in Lahaul and Spiti’s Tabo village.

The weather office said snowfall and rainfall are very likely to continue in the middle and higher hills of the State on February 2 and 3, while weather will remain dry in plains and lower hills.

Meanwhile, the cold eased in other northern States such as Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.

The night temperatures in several parts of Rajasthan stayed above 7 degrees Celsius.

Alwar recorded a minimum temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday (January 31, 2026) night, Lunkaransar (7.7), Pali (8.3), Jawai Dam in Pali district (9.6) and Sri Ganganagar (9.7).

Ajmer witnessed light rainfall at 1.1 mm in the last 24 hours due to impact of a western disturbance. The weather conditions would remain the same in the next 24 hours, officials said.

Minimum temperatures in most places in Haryana and Punjab went up on Sunday (February 1, 2026) and hovered above normal levels.

In Haryana, Ambala recorded a minimum temperature of 12.4 degrees Celsius and Hisar 11 degrees.

According to the IMD, in Bhiwani and Narnaul, temperatures dropped to 6 degrees and 6.5 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Karnal recorded a low of 9.9 degrees, Rohtak (11.8), Sirsa (9.6), Faridabad (11.6), Gurugram (11.2) and Nuh (12.7).

Chandigarh, the common capital of the two States, recorded a low of 11 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Amritsar and Gurdaspur experienced a cold night, with temperatures dipping to 5.9 degrees and 6 degrees Celsius, respectively. Patiala recorded a minimum temperature of 10.2 degrees Celsius, Ludhiana (7.6), Bathinda (8.2), Faridkot (7.4) and Hoshiarpur (10.1).

New Delhi:

The national capital wrapped up a rather warm January with Friday’s maximum temperature reaching 27 degrees Celsius, making it the city’s warmest day in the month since 2019.

The month’s average maximum temperature was 21.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the long-period average of 20.1 degrees Celsius, marking it as Delhi’s warmest January since 2019.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, nighttime temperatures were also higher than usual.

The average minimum temperature for the month settled at 8.5 degrees Celsius, a notch above the LPA of 7.5 degrees Celsius, and the highest since 2017 when it was 8.7 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologists attributed the warmer-than-usual January to the absence of strong western disturbances, which typically bring rain, lowering the temperature.

“This month, while western disturbances did pass through north India, most of them were feeble and did not result in substantial snowfall or rainfall,” said Mahesh Palawat, a weather expert. “If we had one or two strong systems, we would have seen colder conditions due to icy winds and cloudiness. Instead, temperatures rose quickly.” Palawat added that rainfall in northwest India was 81 per cent below normal, impacting winter chill and also reducing fog formation. “January usually sees dense fog, but this time, particularly in the latter half of the month, fog has been nearly absent,” he said.

On Friday, Delhi’s minimum temperature stood at 9.5 degrees Celsius, a degree above normal, while the lowest temperature recorded this month was 5.6 degrees Celsius on January 28. The coldest day of the month was January 1, when the maximum temperature was 15 degrees Celsius.

Higher temperatures this month contributed to a slight improvement in air quality, as warmer conditions help disperse pollutants. Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) for January stood at 305, the cleanest January since 2022, when the average was 279.

In comparison, January’s AQI was 355 last year and 311 in 2023. However, pollution levels remained high, with Friday’s AQI recorded at 351 (very poor).

Forecasts suggest Delhi’s air will continue to hover in the ‘very poor’ category until February 3, with slight improvements expected thereafter.

“From February 1 to 3, Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain ‘very poor.’ It may be ‘poor’ in the subsequent days,” stated the Centre’s Early Warning System for Delhi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Dense fog blanketed Delhi-NCR on Sunday, leading to significant disruptions in train schedules across multiple routes and challenging travel conditions for commuters. The city woke up to foggy weather with a temperature of 10 degrees Celcius, as visibility remained severely reduced.

Railway authorities are working to ensure passenger safety, but delays persisted throughout the morning.

A total of 47 trains originating from Delhi were impacted, with 41 running late — some by over three hours. Notable delays were observed in trains such as the KIR-ASR Express, Lichchavi Express, Gorkhdham Express, Purushottam Express, Mahabodhi Express, Malwa Express, and Dakshin Express. Additionally, the schedules of six trains were revised to accommodate the disruptions.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported dense fog across Delhi and NCR, with the cold spell likely to persist.

Moderate foggy conditions are expected until January 21, followed by light rain or thundershowers on January 22 and 23. Morning temperatures are forecasted to range between 7 degrees Celcius and 12 degrees Celcius, while daytime temperatures may hover between 18 degrees Celcius and 21 degrees Celcius.

Travellers departing from major stations such as New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin have been advised to stay updated on train schedules through official railway apps and station announcements to minimise inconvenience.

In addition to affecting train services, the dense fog has exacerbated Delhi’s air quality.

The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 335, categorised as ‘very poor’ according to the Sameer app, a sharp decline from Saturday’s reading of 248.

While air quality has been fluctuating, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently lifted Stage-III curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to an earlier improvement in AQI levels.

The cold weather has also driven many homeless individuals to seek refuge in night shelters, with authorities closely monitoring the situation to ensure adequate provisions are in place.

Beyond the capital, dense to very dense fog is expected to persist in parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and eastern Uttar Pradesh during the night and early morning, disrupting travel in these regions. Northern Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will remain under a cold spell, with maximum temperatures staying below average through the weekend.

Meanwhile, southern states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh are experiencing intermittent rainfall. Coastal Tamil Nadu is likely to witness isolated thunderstorms, with rainfall intensity peaking over the weekend, especially in the southern districts.

With winter conditions intensifying, authorities across affected regions continue to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the weather on daily life.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi and its neighbouring cities received light rain on Saturday evening, which improved the air quality to ‘poor’ on Sunday morning and provided some relief from the dense fog that was blanketing parts of the national capital region for the past few days.

Delhi on Saturday recorded a low of 7.7 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature settled at 17 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season’s average, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The thick layer of fog on Saturday led to the delay of at least 45 trains.

Cold wave conditions continue in other parts of north India, including Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, with temperatures falling below freezing point.

Delhi and its neighbouring cities such as Ghaziabad and Noida received rain on Saturday evening.

The IMD has predicted a generally cloudy sky with light rain on Sunday.

On Saturday, Delhi-NCR woke up to dense fog in some areas, which led to 45 trains running late, however, flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) remained mostly normal.

The Air Quality Index of Delhi, which was in the range of ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’ for the last few days, improved to the ‘poor’ category on Sunday morning.

As per Centre’s Sameer app, Delhi’s overall AQI at around 5 a.m. on Sunday stood at 285.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good,” 51-100 “satisfactory,” 101-200 “moderate,” 201-300 “poor,” 301-400 “very poor,” and 401-500 “severe”.

Cold wave continued in Himachal Pradesh, with the local meteorological department predicting moderate rain in low-lying plains and snow in isolated areas in middle and high hills, including Shimla and Manali, on Saturday and Sunday.

A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from the night of January 14, 2025, the MeT said and also predicted light rain and snow in isolated places in middle and high hills on Thursday and Friday.

Talking about the anti-pollution measures in the national capital, currently GRAP I, II and III are in effect.

CAQM in compliance with Supreme Court’s earlier order, invoked actions under Stage III of GRAP on Thursday.

The centre’s air quality panel said, “The AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 297 on January 8, 2025, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded as 357 at 4 p.m. on January 9 owing to calm winds and foggy conditions.”

CAQM added, “The Sub Committee on GRAP hereby decide to invoke all actions under StageIII (‘Severe’Air Quality of Delhi) of revised Schedule of GRAP, with immediate effect in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in Delhi-NCR, in addition to the Stage-l and II actions already in force.”

Furthermore, it advised all the agencies to keep strict vigil and intensify measures of the revised GRAP schedule to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further. It assured that the sub-committee is closely monitoring the situation and will review the situation from time to time for further appropriate decisions depending upon the Air Quality in Delhi and the forecast made by IMD/IITM.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A thick blanket of smog continued to envelop Delhi and its adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) for the second consecutive day, with the air quality remaining ‘severe’ on Saturday. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, the air quality index (AQI) breached the 400 mark.

The visibility across the national capital dropped between zero and 200, likely disrupting flight operations.

The Delhi Airport issued an advisory for passengers today morning saying, “Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.”

However, it added, “While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”

Update issued at 06:00 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#DelhiAirport #FogAlert pic.twitter.com/oY6vMpch0t

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 11, 2025

At least 26 trains are running late today, officials said.

Over 100 flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Friday, while at least 30 trains were running late.

Visuals show the national capital covered in a blanket of smog.

#WATCH | Visibility reduced to zero as a blanket of dense fog witnessed in parts of Delhi-NCR

(Visuals from Subroto Park) pic.twitter.com/D2oxrkvaSZ

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

#WATCH | A dense fog envelops parts of Delhi-NCR

(Visuals from Akshardham area) pic.twitter.com/QX2BGSNOoM

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

Amid the worsening air quality, the Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR’s air quality re-imposed Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under GRAP-3, private BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles have been banned. According to the government, violators will face penalties under Section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, which translates to a fine of Rs 20,000.

Heavy rain likely today

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in Delhi over the weekend. According to the weather department, thunderstorms and lightning with dense fog will likely prevail over the national capital on Saturday and Sunday.

“Dense to very dense fog is likely at isolated places over east Uttar Pradesh, dense fog at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and west Uttar Pradesh,” it added.

New Delhi:

Dense fog enveloped parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, reducing visibility to zero and delaying more than 150 flights and about 26 trains.

Flight delays averaged 41 minutes, aviation website FlightRadar24 said.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in an update this morning, said the flight departures have been “impacted” due to dense fog.

#WATCH | Visibility reduced to zero as a blanket of dense fog witnessed in parts of Delhi-NCR

(Visuals from Rajokri area) pic.twitter.com/Pw89P7oavt

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2025

The DIAL, however, reassured travellers that CAT III-compliant flights can land and depart from the airport. 

Update issued at 05:52 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#DelhiAirport #FogUpdate pic.twitter.com/XULkxIr9nh

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 10, 2025

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a moderate to very dense fog warning for many parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Hundreds of flights and trains have been cancelled or delayed due to thick fog in the past few weeks in North India.

The capital’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 408 around 6 am, dropping to the ‘severe’ category from ‘very poor’, according to the data on the Central Pollution Control Board website.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

According to the IMD, Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency said the capital’s maximum and minimum temperatures would hover between 6 and 20 degrees Celsius on Friday.

Grap Stage 3 In Delhi-NCR

The Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR’s air quality on Thursday re-implemented stage 3 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) amid a sharp rise in air pollution levels owing to unfavourable meteorological conditions.

Delhi’s air pollution levels showed an increasing trend with the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) clocking 357 at 4 pm on Thursday, up from 297 on Wednesday.

The Commission for Air Quality Management, responsible for strategising air pollution mitigation in Delhi-NCR, directed authorities in the region to immediately implement curbs prescribed under stage 3 to prevent further worsening of the situation.

GRAP Stage 3, revoked on Sunday, entails a ban on non-essential construction work.

Classes up to grade V are required to shift to hybrid mode under Stage 3. Parents and students have the option to choose online education wherever available.

Under Stage 3, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars (4-wheelers) are restricted in Delhi and nearby NCR districts. Persons with disabilities are exempt.

Stage 3 also bans non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards in the national capital.

During winters, the Delhi-NCR region enforces restrictions under GRAP, which categorises air quality into four stages – Stage I (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (Severe Plus, AQI above 450).

New Delhi:

Delhi saw a slight improvement in air quality on Tuesday with AQI reading at 296 (poor), while temperatures are expected to drop to 5 degrees Celsius in the coming days, officials said.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in the national capital had remained in the “very poor” category for the past week.

On Monday, the AQI was recorded at 335 in the “very poor” category.

Meanwhile, the weather department’s 7-day forecast indicates that from Wednesday, the minimum temperature will start dipping, and by Friday, it is expected to drop to 5 degrees Celsius.

The Safdarjung observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 16.2 degrees Celsius, 2.8 notches above normal.

The minimum temperature stood at 10.5 degrees Celsius, 3.6 notches above the normal, with relative humidity ranging between 87 and 92 per cent during the day, the IMD said.

Thick fog blanketed Delhi during the early hours, reducing visibility to 150 metres and delaying 25 trains.

“Minimum visibility of 150 metres in dense fog with northwesterly winds at 11-13 kmph was reported over Palam between 5 and 5:30 am, gradually improving to 700 metres in shallow fog with westerly winds at 13 kmph by 8:30 am,” IMD said.

At Safdarjung, the minimum visibility was recorded at 500 metres, the IMD added.

The weather office has predicted mainly clear skies with cold day conditions at isolated places. Smog or moderate fog is expected in most places with dense fog likely in isolated areas in the morning.

Additionally, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday revoked curbs under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR after the region witnessed a dip in air pollution levels owing to favourable meteorological conditions, especially improved wind speed.

However, restrictions under Stage 1 and Stage 2 of GRAP remain in place across Delhi-NCR.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A blanket of fog continued to cover parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, reducing visibility and affecting flight and train operations for the third straight day.

Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were hit, with delays reported for aircraft not equipped with advanced CAT III navigation systems.

General visibility at the airport was zero at 7:30 am.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in an update issued around 7 am, reassured travellers that landings and takeoffs were ongoing, but cautioned that non-CAT III-compliant flights might face delays.

Update issued at 06:55 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/g67ls6Eweg

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 5, 2025

Several trains also reported significant delays at New Delhi Railway Station due to near-zero visibility.

#WATCH | Delhi: As cold waves grip the national capital, several trains running late at New Delhi railway station due to fog

(Visuals from New Delhi Railway station) pic.twitter.com/eGD8SnaIsC

— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2025

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for dense fog during the morning hours, warning of reduced visibility across the city.

Delhi Sees Season’s Longest Zero Visibility Spell

Earlier Saturday, dense fog enveloped the national capital and reduced visibility to zero for an unprecedented nine-hour stretch, the longest spell of the season.

The city’s primary weather station, Safdarjung, recorded eight hours of zero visibility, as per the IMD.

According to officials, it also led to the delay of 81 trains while 15 flights got diverted.

The maximum temperature in the city settled at 20 degrees Celsius, 0.7 notch above average and the minimum temperature was recorded at 7.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 notch above the normal, the IMD said.

The air quality also continued in the ‘very poor’ category this morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI was at 377.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 and 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 and 300 ‘poor,’ 301 and 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe.’