Delhi: Delhi woke up to another choking morning on December 27 as pollution levels surged once again, just two days after the easing of stringent curbs under GRAP-4. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed a sharp spike in the city’s air quality index, pushing overall readings deep into the ‘very poor’ zone.
At 7 am, the national capital recorded an average AQI of 353, reflecting a clear deterioration from the previous day’s figure of 332. The rise in pollution coincided with falling temperatures and persistent fog, conditions that tend to trap pollutants close to the ground during winter.
Large parts of the city were blanketed by dense smog, severely reducing visibility during early morning hours. Areas such as Dhaula Kuan were shrouded in haze, affecting traffic movement and daily commutes. The minimum temperature dipped to 8.6 degrees Celsius, further intensifying stagnant atmospheric conditions.
Several pollution monitoring stations flagged alarming readings in the ‘severe’ category. Vivek Vihar emerged as one of the worst-affected locations with an AQI of 424, followed by Jahangirpuri at 417, Narela at 413, Anand Vihar at 410, Rohini at 409 and Bawana at 404. Wazirpur also remained close to the severe threshold with a reading of 397.
Other parts of Delhi continued to report distressingly high pollution levels. Ashok Vihar, Chandni Chowk, ITO, Okhla, Patparganj, Mundka and Sonia Vihar all registered AQI values hovering between 370 and 390. While Mandir Marg showed comparatively lower levels at 270, it still fell within the ‘poor’ category, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.
The combination of fog and smog also disrupted rail operations in the region. Passengers at Anand Vihar Railway Station reported delays as visibility dropped significantly during the morning hours, adding to travel woes.
Under CPCB standards, an AQI above 300 poses serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments. With most of Delhi slipping back into the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ brackets, experts warn that winter pollution is likely to persist unless sustained weather changes and stricter control measures are implemented.
