 "Cold wave, polluted air push Delhi’s air quality to brink of ‘severe’")
The weather conditions in the national capital turned the polluted air into a cold wave delivering a double blow to the Delhi region. As air quality hovered just short of the “severe” category on Sunday and dense fog disrupted daily life across north India.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 390 this morning, which experienced a marginal improvement in the air index threatening to tip into severe levels.
Several monitoring stations recorded far worse readings. Chandni Chowk emerged as one of the most polluted pockets with an AQI of 455, followed by Wazirpur at 449, Bawana at 446, Rohini at 444 and Anand Vihar at 438.
The air quality index remained grim as Gurugram reported an AQI of 354, Noida 352 and Ghaziabad 334. All fall in the poor category. Faridabad fared slightly better but still logged a “poor” AQI of 283.
The cold wave also affected the air of the national capital region. The pollution spike coincided with the first cold wave ever recorded this year. Delhi recorded its coldest December day so far on Saturday, with the maximum temperature plunging to 16.9 degrees Celsius, 5 notches below normal.
Weather disruptions spilled into air travel as well. At least 129 flights were cancelled at Delhi’s airport on Saturday due to dense fog, news agency PTI reported, citing an official. Flight operations were running smoothly today, Delhi Airport said in an update on X.
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View AllPassenger Advisory issued at 06:00 hours.#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory pic.twitter.com/GrSsrVoNIH
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 21, 2025
The India Meteorological Department has also predicted dense fog on Sunday during overnight and early hours. The IMD has issued an orange alert to the capital and weather officials have advised to stay indoors.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has warned about the ill effects of worsening pollution. In a video shared on X, he warned of strict action against polluting industries and violations of the ongoing construction ban, adding that authorities had received complaints of construction activity despite restrictions.
Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan has been in force since December 13, mandating a blanket ban on construction and demolition, curbs on open burning, restrictions on non-BS VI vehicles entering the city, denial of fuel to vehicles, cooking tandoors, and a work-from-home mandate for 50 per cent of employees in government and private offices.
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