Air quality ‘very poor’, Delhi wakes up to thick blanket of smog; IGI airport issues advisory

Many areas experienced low visibility due to smog, making it difficult for travellers. Visuals from the Red Fort showed lingering air pollution severely reducing visibility.

VIDEO | Delhi: Morning visuals from the Red Fort show lingering air pollution severely reducing visibility, as a thick layer of smog engulfs the national capital.

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/FBiFfZLiV8

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2025

Visuals from the Akshardham area, where the AQI was recorded at 438, categorised as ‘severe’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), showed the area shrouded with dense smog.

#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals around Akshardham area as a layer of toxic smog engulfs the national capital.

The CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) has invoked all actions under GRAP Stage-IV in the Delhi-NCR region.

AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 438,… pic.twitter.com/cCyHvHmNwY

— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2025

Delhi airport issues advisory

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an advisory for passengers amid the low visibility conditions.

The airport urged passengers to contact the concerned airlines for updated flight information.

“Low Visibility Procedures are still in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are functioning normally. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates,” read the advisory.

Passenger Advisory issued at 08:00 hours.

Please click on this link for real-time winter-ready travel updates: https://t.co/KkKldKUlLQ#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory pic.twitter.com/moaVxaNv1P

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 22, 2025

Pollution levels unlikely to ease significantly in Delhi-NCR in the coming days

Forecasts indicate that pollution levels are unlikely to ease significantly in Delhi-NCR in the coming days.

According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s (IITM) Air Quality and Weather Bulletin, air quality is expected to remain in the ‘Very Poor’ category through December 24, with the outlook for the subsequent days ranging from ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Severe’.

A day after the Capital recorded its first ‘cold day’ of the season, similar conditions prevailed in isolated parts of the Capital, according to the bulletin. A cold day is recorded when the minimum temperature is below 10 °C and the maximum temperature is 4.5 °C below the normal.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated in its daily bulletin that a western disturbance persists. This means that slightly warmer nights are expected due to cloud cover. The maximum temperatures are expected to remain appreciably below normal before returning to near normal levels on Monday and Tuesday, while minimum temperatures are likely to remain above normal for the next two days, it said.

The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies over the next couple of days, with mist and shallow fog during evening and night hours on Monday, and moderate fog at many places with dense fog at isolated locations in the morning. From Tuesday onwards, shallow to moderate fog is expected to persist during morning hours, with periods of moderate to dense fog later in the week.