New Delhi: The New Year began under harsh winter conditions in Delhi as dense pollution, cold temperatures and fog continued to affect the national capital. Air quality remained in the “very poor” category on Thursday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 382 around 5 am, according to data from the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.

Weather conditions offered little relief. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a generally cloudy sky through the day, with chances of very light to light rainfall at isolated locations. The department also warned that moderate fog would persist across many areas, while dense fog could occur at some places during the morning hours. Cold day conditions were also expected in isolated pockets of the city.

Wednesday was Delhi’s coldest day since 2019.

The adverse weather also affected air travel. Air India issued a travel advisory cautioning passengers about possible flight delays and disruptions due to poor visibility caused by dense fog across parts of northern India, including Delhi. The airline advised travellers to monitor their flight status closely and reach airports well in advance to avoid inconvenience.

IndiGo issued a passenger advisory stating that persistent fog over Guwahati is causing slower flight movements, which may lead to short delays for some arrivals and departures across its network and advised travellers to check their flight status on the airline’s website or app before heading to the airport.