Dense Fog Cripples Delhi: Over 60 Flights Cancelled, Dozens Delayed at IGI Airport.

Severe Winter Weather Hits Transport Network: Flights Cancelled, Trains Late, Travel Chaos in Delhi.

Dense fog and harsh winter conditions brought Delhi to a near standstill on Monday, January 5, 2026, severely disrupting air and rail operations and causing widespread inconvenience to thousands of passengers across the National Capital Region. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, visibility dropped to as low as 400–800 metres in the early hours, forcing the cancellation of over 60 flights and delaying dozens more, with domestic routes to cities such as Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Chennai, and Kolkata among the worst affected.

The situation worsened as the day progressed, with persistent fog triggering a cascading effect on airline schedules, while heavy snowfall in the hills led IndiGo and SpiceJet to suspend all flight operations at Leh airport, further straining national air traffic networks.

The India Meteorological Department maintained a yellow alert for Delhi-NCR, warning of continued low visibility, prompting the Airports Authority of India and airlines to issue advisories urging passengers to check flight status before departure, arrive early due to fog-induced traffic snarls, and take advantage of free rescheduling or refund options.

The impact extended beyond aviation, as dense fog crippled rail movement in northern India, with at least 69 trains arriving late in Delhi, including premier services such as the Karnataka Superfast and the Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani, which were delayed by two to three hours.

Together, the disruptions underscored how extreme winter weather has once again exposed the vulnerability of transport infrastructure in north India, leaving commuters grappling with prolonged delays, cancellations, and uncertainty.