Delhi's Air Quality Nears 'Severe' Amid Cold Wave, Fog Disrupts Flights

• Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 390, just shy of the 'severe' category, exacerbated by a cold wave and dense fog.
• Highly polluted areas include Chandni Chowk (455), Wazirpur (449), Bawana (446), Rohini (444), and Anand Vihar (438).
• NCR cities like Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad also reported 'poor' air quality.
• The cold wave, marking Delhi's coldest December day at 16.9°C, coincided with the pollution spike, leading to 129 flight cancellations at Delhi Airport on Saturday.
• IMD issued an orange alert for dense fog, while Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa warned of strict action against polluters and violations of GRAP Stage IV restrictions.

Why It Matters: Delhi faces severe air pollution and cold wave, impacting health, travel, and prompting strict government action.