The national capital records an AQI of 372 on New Year’s Day morning; dense fog and biting cold disrupt flight operations at IGI Airport.
January 1, 2026: The first morning of 2026 brought little celebration for Delhi’s lungs as the city remained enveloped in a thick, toxic blanket of smog. On Thursday, January 1, 2026, the air quality remained at the higher end of the “Very Poor” category, with several pockets slipping into “Severe” levels.
The pollution crisis is being exacerbated by a “triple threat” of weather conditions: stagnant winds, high humidity from a western disturbance, and a severe cold wave that saw Wednesday record the city’s lowest maximum temperature since 2019.
AQI Watch: The Worst-Hit Areas
According to the CPCB’s Sameer app, the city-wide average AQI stood at 372 at 7:00 am. However, industrial and transit hubs saw much more dangerous levels.
| Location | AQI Level | Category |
| Anand Vihar | 421 | Severe |
| Sonia Vihar | 424 | Severe |
| Wazirpur | 414 | Severe |
| Mundka | 413 | Severe |
| Jahangirpuri | 412 | Severe |
Travel Chaos: 150+ Flights Cancelled
Visibility dropped to near zero in several parts of North India, leading to a massive disruption in travel during the holiday rush.
- Aviation: Over 150 flights were cancelled at Delhi’s IGI Airport this morning, with an additional 250+ flights delayed. Air India and IndiGo have issued travel advisories, urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
- Railways: At least 22 trains scheduled to arrive in Delhi are running behind schedule by 2 to 6 hours due to low visibility on the tracks.
- CAT-III Protocols: The airport is currently operating under CAT-III low-visibility procedures, meaning only specially equipped aircraft and trained pilots can land.
Coldest December Since 2019
The biting cold has officially set in, with Wednesday (Dec 31, 2025) being declared a “Severe Cold Day.”
- Temperature: The maximum temperature plunged to 14.2°C, which is 6.2 degrees below normal. This marks the coldest day Delhi has experienced in six years.
- Fog Alert: The IMD has issued a Yellow Alert for Delhi-NCR, warning that dense fog will persist until at least January 5.
Hope on the Horizon?
Meteorologists are pinning hopes on a scattered drizzle expected later this afternoon. While light rain can sometimes worsen humidity and trap pollutants, a steady shower could help “wash out” the particulate matter currently choking the city.