Delhi Chokes: AQI Hits 'Severe' as Dense Fog & Smog Blanket Capital

• Delhi's air quality deteriorated significantly on Saturday, December 27, with dense fog and smog pushing the AQI into "very poor" and "severe" categories.
• The city's overall AQI was 355 ('very poor') at 9 am, with several areas like Akshardham and Anand Vihar recording 'severe' levels around 410.
• Reduced visibility and health concerns compounded for residents as pollution levels climbed rapidly from 234 to 332 in 24 hours.
• Calm winds, 100% relative humidity, and low wind speeds were identified by IMD as key factors limiting pollutant dispersion.
• IMD issued a yellow alert for fog, forecasting continued high pollution due to upcoming Western Disturbances.

Why It Matters: Delhi's AQI worsened to 'severe' due to fog, smog, and calm winds, with high pollution expected.