Delhi’s winter woes deepened on December 26, 2025, as a relentless cold wave and thick smog continued to blanket the National Capital Region (NCR), with the Air Quality Index (AQI) averaging 350—firmly in the “poor” category according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)—and hotspots like Anand Vihar hitting 377, teetering on very poor. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) maintained its yellow alert for moderate fog and cold day conditions, predicting temperatures between 5-17 degrees Celsius, as low winds trapped pollutants in a toxic haze.