Following Saturday's surge to 387, Delhi-NCR's air quality deteriorated further on December 15, 2025, with AQI exceeding 450 amid dense smog and fog. IMD issued an orange alert, GRAP-4 enforced hybrid schooling and 50% work-from-home, while traffic and flights faced disruptions.
Building on the intensifying winter smog crisis—with AQI reaching 387 on Saturday and hotspots like Wazirpur exceeding 400—conditions worsened dramatically on December 15. Delhi-NCR's overall AQI hit 454 per CPCB, with Akshardham at 493, Barakhamba Road at 474, and areas like Wazirpur, Rohini, and Ashok Vihar topping 500. Visibility dropped to 5-10 meters due to thick smog and fog.
IMD issued an orange alert for dense fog in Noida and Ghaziabad, forecasting persistence until December 19 across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and northeastern Madhya Pradesh. Indira Gandhi International Airport warned of flight delays, and road traffic slowed to a crawl.
GRAP Stage-4 remains active, banning construction and older diesel vehicles. Delhi's Directorate of Education mandated hybrid classes for up to Class XI; offices must operate at 50% capacity with work-from-home.
A Western Disturbance is expected from December 17 night, potentially bringing snowfall to northern hills and colder winds to plains, dropping temperatures by 2°C. Experts link delayed snowfall patterns to climate change.