Year-End Weather Chaos: Dense Fog Cripples Delhi IGI Airport, 148 Flights Cancelled, 150+ Delayed

Winter Onslaught Disrupts New Year Travel: Flights Cancelled, Trains Delayed Across North India.

On the final day of 2025, a brutal winter spell has brought northern India to a near standstill, with Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport emerging as the epicenter of widespread travel chaos caused by dense to zero-visibility fog conditions.

As thick fog enveloped the national capital, at least 148 flights were cancelled and over 150 others delayed, forcing airport authorities to operate under CAT III low-visibility protocols, while multiple flights were diverted due to unsafe landing conditions.

The disruption extended beyond aviation, severely impacting the rail network, with dozens of Delhi-bound trains running hours behind schedule, compounding commuter distress.

Simultaneously, the India Meteorological Department issued multiple alerts across the northern belt as heavy snowfall lashed Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh, affecting tourist hotspots such as Gulmarg and Manali, while a biting cold wave tightened its grip over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of central India, where temperatures plunged to near-freezing levels.

With forecasts warning of persistent dense fog through New Year’s Day across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, authorities have urged travelers to remain cautious, expect prolonged delays, and stay updated on transport advisories, as the severe winter onslaught casts a disruptive shadow over year-end travel and New Year celebrations across the region.