New Delhi: A fire erupted in bushes near a crematorium in Delhi’s Geeta Colony on Sunday, triggering thick plumes of smoke in the area. Officials said no casualties were reported and the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Visuals from the spot showed dense smoke rising as charred branches and smouldering debris covered parts of the ground, indicating that the blaze spread rapidly across dry vegetation. Fire personnel brought the situation under control, and an assessment of the damage is underway.
The incident comes amid worsening air pollution in the national capital, with conditions edging close to the “severe” category. Delhi’s air quality index climbed sharply through the day, touching 377 by 5 pm and breaching the severe threshold later in the night. By 6:30 am on Sunday, the AQI showed marginal improvement but remained near-severe at 396, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The forecast warned of persistently hazardous conditions, stating that air quality is likely to remain in the severe category from December 20 to December 22, before easing slightly to the very poor category on December 23. The outlook for the next six days remains concerning, with pollution levels expected to fluctuate between very poor and severe.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app showed several areas across the capital recording hazardous air quality in the early morning hours. Chandni Chowk, Wazirpur, Rohini, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar and Mundka were among the worst affected, all registering AQI levels firmly in the severe range.
