Delhi AQI Remains ‘Very Poor’ On New Year’s Day; IMD Predicts Fog, Rain In Capital

Last Updated:January 01, 2026, 08:05 IST

Delhi’s AQI hit 372 on New Year’s Day, with Anand Vihar, Mundka and Jahangirpuri crossing 400. IMD forecasts rain and fog, while Air India and IndiGo warn of flight delays.

Delhi woke up to very poor air quality on New Year’s Day, with pollution levels continuing to remain a concern across the national capital and its adjoining areas. Light rain is likely expected later in the day, which may bring temporary relief and help improve air quality marginally in parts of Delhi-NCR.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s Sameer app, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 372 at 7 am, categorised as “very poor”.

Few monitoring stations in the city recorded air in the “severe” level with the AQI crossing 400-mark. The worst hit areas include Anand Vihar (421), Mundka (413) and Jahangirpuri (412).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a generally cloudy sky for Thursday, with chances of very light to light rain at isolated places. It also warned of moderate fog at several locations and dense fog in isolated areas during the morning hours, along with cold day conditions in some parts. Notably, Wednesday marked Delhi’s coldest day since 2019.

Air India cautioned passengers about potential flight disruptions due to low visibility caused by fog in parts of northern India, including Delhi on Thursday. In a travel advisory, the airline said weather forecasts point to dense fog conditions that may affect flight schedules across its network.

IndiGo on Thursday issued a travel advisory cautioning passengers about possible delays due to persistent fog over Guwahati, which has slowed flight operations at the airport.

In a statement, the airline said arrivals and departures to and from Guwahati, along with select routes across its network, may experience brief delays as crews navigate challenging weather conditions.

The CPCB classifies AQI levels between 0 and 50 as ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.

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