New Delhi: The capital woke up to another day under a thick haze on Sunday as Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ category, signaling hazardous pollution levels across the city.
Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 7 a.m. showed the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 391, teetering just below the upper limit of the “severe” range. Several neighborhoods, however, crossed that threshold, recording readings well above 400 — levels that can affect even healthy individuals and cause serious health issues for those with pre-existing conditions.
Among the worst-hit areas were Bawana (436), Patparganj (425), RK Puram (422), Alipur (415), Sonia Vihar (415), and Chandni Chowk (409). The industrial hub of Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 412, continuing its trend as one of the city’s most polluted zones.
The spike follows a period of sustained deterioration in Delhi’s air quality, which had already lingered in the “very poor” category through Saturday, when the city’s overall AQI stood at 355. The worsening smog has been attributed to a mix of factors — stagnant wind movement, vehicle emissions, crop residue burning in neighboring states, and the seasonal temperature drop that traps pollutants close to the surface.
With the Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) already in force, authorities have implemented several measures to curb emissions. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has doubled parking fees across the city to discourage private vehicle use, while construction activities deemed non-essential have been restricted in many zones.
Despite these curbs, experts warn that without stronger regional cooperation and sustained efforts, Delhi’s winter pollution crisis is unlikely to abate soon.
“The current conditions are extremely unsafe. We are not just talking about vulnerable groups anymore — the entire population is at risk,” said an environmental scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
Public health officials have advised residents to stay indoors during peak pollution hours, wear N95 masks when venturing outside, and use air purifiers where possible. Schools and hospitals have also reported an uptick in respiratory complaints, particularly among children and the elderly.
As the smog thickens, Delhi once again finds itself battling an all-too-familiar foe — toxic air that blurs the skyline and threatens the lungs of millions.
