New Delhi: Residents of Delhi woke up to yet another toxic morning on Friday as pollution levels surged to extreme highs, with no signs of improvement on the horizon. Despite the government’s costly attempt at cloud seeding to trigger artificial rainfall, air quality continued to deteriorate sharply.
By 7 a.m., the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at a staggering 455 on aqi.in—levels so severe that experts say they mimic the health impact of inhaling the smoke of nearly 11 cigarettes in a single day. The Early Warning System for Delhi recorded a slightly lower AQI of 373 at 5:30 a.m., while another reading at 5 a.m. on aqi.in showed 433. Officials noted that the variation is due to differences in monitoring networks, station density, and assessment parameters used by various agencies.
Particulate matter concentrations remained dangerously high. PM2.5 levels hovered around 280 µg/m³, and PM10 touched 370 µg/m³—figures that exceed the World Health Organization’s safe 24-hour limits nearly twenty-fold. WHO guidelines recommend no more than 15 µg/m³ for PM2.5 and 45 µg/m³ for PM10.
With the national capital locked in a blanket of smog, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has continued enforcement of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), invoked when AQI readings cross or threaten to cross the 401–450 range.
NCR Sees Even Darker Skies
Air quality in neighbouring NCR cities fared even worse. Faridabad registered a shocking 570 by 7:34 a.m. Gurgaon followed with 417. Noida and Greater Noida reported hazardous levels of 514 and 458, while Ghaziabad reached an alarming 543.
Health Advisory Issued
Authorities urged residents to minimise outdoor exposure and avoid strenuous activities such as walking, jogging or outdoor yoga. Those who must step out have been advised to wear N95 masks.
Households and commuters using air purifiers were asked to run them on optimal settings. Doctors warned that individuals experiencing wheezing, persistent cough, or breathing difficulty should seek medical attention without delay.
As pollution continues to mount and countermeasures show little effect, Delhi and its surrounding regions remain enveloped in one of the harshest smog episodes of the season.
