Delhi Chokes: Orange Alert Issued as Extreme Fog Blinds City, Disrupts Travel

• Delhi faces an Orange Alert due to extreme fog and hazardous air pollution, severely impacting visibility.
• Over 700 flights were affected, with 177 flights and 50 trains cancelled as visibility dropped to zero/50 meters.
• The Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the 'very poor' category, nearing 'severe' (400+), with conditions expected to worsen.
• The Supreme Court criticized reactive pollution control, urging structural reforms for long-term solutions.
• Absence of rainfall and rising vehicular emissions exacerbate the crisis, making December the dirtiest in eight years.

Why It Matters: Delhi grapples with severe fog and pollution, disrupting travel and prompting calls for urgent structural reforms.