Dense Fog Grips North India: Flight Delays, Cancellations — What Travellers Should Do

Bhopal: Passengers wait inside the railway station premises amid delayed train services on a cold winter night, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, early Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (PTI Photo) (PTI01_04_2026_000025B)

Dense fog across North India and parts of Central India disrupted travel on Friday, January 2, 2026, with spillover delays continuing into the weekend. Low visibility affected flights, trains and road movement across multiple states, particularly in the northern belt, where fog and cold-wave conditions persisted.

Flight disruptions

  1. Delhi-NCR: Fog and low visibility led to 66 flight cancellations at Delhi airport on Friday, with additional delays through the morning hours.
  2. Ahmedabad: Even with clear local weather, Ahmedabad airport saw a cascading impact because aircraft were delayed at fog-hit origin cities (notably Delhi/Hyderabad). About 40 flights were delayed (21 departures, 19 arrivals), including several international services.

Train disruptions

  1. Delhi Division: Rail movement was affected by fog, with reports indicating around 28 trains delayed (1–8 hours) and 18 rescheduled; a Delhi–Lucknow special was also reported cancelled.
  2. Patna corridor: Fog impacted long-distance services on the Delhi–Patna route and beyond; local reports noted 28 trains running late, with delays stretching up to ~26 hours in some cases.

Road and local advisories

Visibility dipped sharply on highways during early morning hours, slowing intercity movement. In the NCR, schools in Noida and Ghaziabad were ordered closed until January 5 due to weather conditions.

Weather snapshot and outlook

In Delhi, the IMD reported the minimum temperature at 9.1°C (Safdarjung) and noted visibility reductions at Safdarjung during the morning on January 3 as well. Fog was forecast to continue in parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh through January 7 in night/morning hours.

Traveller guidance: what to do now

If you’re flying

  1. Check status before leaving for the airport; expect morning disruptions in fog-prone corridors.
  2. Prefer midday departures where flexible; keep rebooking options ready.

If you’re travelling by train

  1. Keep a buffer of 4–6 hours for long-distance trains in the northern belt; track live running status and platform changes.

If you’re driving

  1. Avoid early-morning peak fog windows where possible; use fog lights correctly, maintain longer braking distance, and follow live traffic updates.

Health and comfort

  1. Dress in layers, and carry water/snacks/a power bank; vulnerable groups should minimise exposure to cold and poor visibility conditions.

With dense fog persisting across parts of North India, delays across air, rail, and road networks may continue intermittently. Travellers should plan with buffers, monitor official updates, and prioritise safety over speed.

By Charu Mandhyan