A thick blanket of fog enveloped Delhi and the wider National Capital Region (NCR) on New Year’s Eve, creating severe travel disruption just hours before celebrations. The dense fog cut visibility dramatically, causing widespread inconvenience for air travellers, motorists and daily commuters alike.
At Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), the weather conditions led to major operational setbacks. Nearly 150 flights were cancelled as visibility dropped, while many others were delayed or rescheduled to later times. Passengers waiting to fly found themselves stuck in long queues at the airport, scrambling to confirm revised timings and connecting flights. The chaos affected both domestic and international travellers as airlines struggled to adjust schedules in real time.
Airlines issued advisories urging passengers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport. Many people had to rebook or rearrange their plans at short notice, with some flights being diverted to nearby airports to ensure safety amid the poor weather conditions. The uncertainty added to the stress of travel during one of the busiest days of the year.
The disruption was not limited to the skies. On roads across Delhi-NCR, motorists struggled with bracing fog that reduced visibility to just a few metres in some areas. Traffic moved at a slow pace, and there were multiple reports of commuters delaying journeys due to poor driving conditions. Public transport services, including buses and taxis, also faced delays as drivers took extra precautions to avoid accidents.
Experts said that a combination of cold winter air, moisture close to the ground, and lingering pollution contributed to the formation of the dense fog. With pollutants trapped near the surface, the air quality in many parts of the capital remained poor, raising concerns about health impacts on vulnerable groups such as children, older people, and those with respiratory issues.
Weather authorities issued warnings about continuing foggy conditions, suggesting that visibility could remain low in the early days of the new year. Travellers were advised to allow extra time for journeys and to keep checking updates from airlines and transport officials to avoid last-minute hassles.
As the city prepared to welcome 2026, the fog-related travel chaos served as a reminder of how seasonal weather patterns and urban pollution can intersect to disrupt everyday life. Airport staff, airline crews and transport officials worked through the difficulties to assist passengers and keep traffic moving, even as the city braced for celebrations ahead.
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