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Chandigarh air turns ‘very poor’ as AQI hits 302; city records season’s coldest day at 18.3°C

Chandigarh continued to grapple with deteriorating air quality on Saturday as pollution levels surged, pushing the AQI into the ‘very poor’ category.

4 min readUpdated: Dec 20, 2025 10:41 PM IST

Visibility in the city improved to around 200 metres during the morning hours, compared to much lower levels earlier this week when dense fog severely impacted road and air traffic. (File Photo)

Chandigarh’s air quality slipped from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) jumping to 302, even as the city recorded its lowest day temperature of the season at 18.3 degree Celsius.

Chandigarh continued to grapple with deteriorating air quality on Saturday as pollution levels surged, pushing the AQI into the ‘very poor’ category.

As per figures released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI, calculated as the average of the past 24 hours, stood at 302. This marked a sharp rise from Friday’s AQI of 254. Earlier in the week, the city had recorded AQI values of 266 on December 18 and 275 on December 17, indicating a persistent spell of degraded air quality.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a maximum temperature of 18.3 degree Celsius in Chandigarh on Saturday, the lowest daytime temperature of the season so far.

Meanwhile, after four consecutive days of dense fog, Chandigarh witnessed a slight improvement in weather conditions on Saturday, bringing limited relief to residents.

Visibility in the city improved to around 200 metres during the morning hours, compared to much lower levels earlier this week when dense fog severely impacted road and air traffic.

According to the IMD, there is no forecast of fog for the next three days, which is expected to result in relatively clearer mornings and smoother vehicular movement. However, officials cautioned that the relief would be temporary. From December 24 onwards, dense fog is expected to return to the region, potentially worsening air quality.

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The five-day forecast for the Tricity — Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula — suggests partly cloudy skies from December 21 to December 23, with maximum temperatures ranging between 18 and 23 degree Celsius and minimum temperatures between 12 and 13 degree Celsius. From December 24 and 25, the forecast indicates mainly clear skies accompanied by dense fog, with minimum temperatures likely to fall further to around 10 degree Celsius on December 24 and 9 degree Celsius on December 25.

Observations recorded at the Chandigarh Weather Observatory on Saturday showed that humidity levels remain high, with maximum relative humidity touching 96 per cent and minimum humidity at 83 per cent. Such conditions are favourable for fog formation and also contribute to the persistence of smog, particularly during night and early morning hours.

Health experts have advised residents to avoid prolonged outdoor activities, especially during early morning and late evening hours, and to take precautions such as wearing masks.

Dense fog disrupts air traffic, 12 flights cancelled

Dense fog severely disrupted flight operations at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali, on Saturday day, leading to the cancellation of 12 domestic flights till 6.42 pm. Poor visibility conditions during the early morning hours affected both arrivals and departures, causing inconvenience to passengers.

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According to airport authorities, at least five incoming flights were cancelled, which included IndiGo flights from Delhi and Pune, and Air India flights from Delhi and Leh, scheduled between 5.40 am and 9.50 am. An IndiGo flight from Delhi scheduled to arrive at 8.35 am was also cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

Departure operations were equally impacted, with seven flights cancelled. IndiGo services to Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Delhi again were grounded, while Air India flights to Delhi and Leh scheduled for 8.45 am and 10.30 am respectively were also called off.

Airport officials said flight operations remain dependent on weather improvement. Passengers have been advised to check flight status with airlines before heading to the airport, as fog-related disruptions may continue during the winter season.

With inputs from Jasbir Malhi

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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