New Delhi | December 29, 2025
A severe cold wave coupled with dense fog has disrupted daily life across large parts of North India, with temperatures plunging below 5 degrees Celsius in several states and air quality deteriorating sharply in Delhi-NCR.
According to weather data, minimum temperatures dropped significantly across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand, while Delhi recorded a low of 6.3°C. In the hill regions, Ladakh’s Drass witnessed extreme cold, with the mercury falling to minus 14.2°C, among the lowest this winter.
Dense fog reduced visibility to less than 50 meters in parts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh on Sunday morning, severely affecting road, rail, and air traffic. In view of the harsh conditions, the Uttar Pradesh government ordered the closure of schools up to Class 12 until January 1.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported cold wave conditions extending from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi to parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Assam’s Guwahati also experienced unusually cold conditions, while isolated places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported thunderstorms with rainfall.
✈️ Flight Disrupted Due to Fog
An IndiGo flight (6E-7324) from Delhi to Pantnagar was unable to land on Sunday afternoon due to poor visibility. After circling in the air, the aircraft was forced to return to Delhi. The flight was carrying 78 passengers, while 76 travelers awaiting departure from Pantnagar faced inconvenience.
🌫️ Delhi-NCR Air Quality Turns Severe
The cold and calm wind conditions worsened air pollution levels across Delhi-NCR. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 390 by 4 pm on Sunday. Out of 40 monitoring stations, 19 reported AQI in the severe category.
Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 444, followed by Greater Noida (434), Noida (419), Ghaziabad (414), and Gurugram (353). PM2.5 remained the dominant pollutant, raising health concerns for vulnerable groups.
🌡️ Lowest Temperatures Recorded
Hisar, Haryana: 2.5°C (coldest in the plains)
Faridkot, Punjab: 3.4°C
Meerut & Muzaffarnagar, UP: 6.7°C
Delhi: 6.3°C
Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh: 0.6°C
Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir: -2.2°C
Authorities have advised residents to limit outdoor exposure, especially during early morning and late-night hours, as cold wave and fog conditions are expected to persist.
