Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates To ‘Hazardous’ Levels; Citizens Struggle Amid Toxic Smog

Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘hazardous’ category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to a shocking 481 at 7 am, classified as ‘severe-plus.’ The deteriorating air quality poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), most of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 450, signaling an alarming situation. Neighboring regions also reported poor air quality: Noida recorded an AQI of 384 in the ‘very poor’ category, Faridabad registered ‘poor’ at 320, while Ghaziabad and Gurugram faced ‘severe’ conditions with AQIs of 400 and 446, respectively.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Alert for dense fog, further aggravating the crisis by reducing visibility and disrupting transportation, including flight operations. Widespread delays have been reported as smog blankets the region.

Despite efforts to control pollution, Delhi remains choked by toxic air, with many residents likening the city to a “gas chamber.” Morning walkers in West Delhi expressed their distress, saying, “This is not fog, it is pollution. Breathing has become a struggle, especially for those above 50 years of age.”

On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in response to the worsening air quality. The decision followed an emergency meeting of the GRAP sub-committee, citing unfavorable meteorological conditions as a contributing factor.

Delhi’s daily average AQI on Sunday hit 441 by 4 p.m. and escalated to 457 by 7 p.m., according to CPCB’s Daily AQI Bulletin.

For context, the CPCB defines AQI categories as follows: 0-50 is ‘good,’ 51-100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101-200 ‘moderate,’ 201-300 ‘poor,’ 301-400 ‘very poor,’ 401-450 ‘severe,’ and above 450 ‘severe-plus.’

With the cold wave settling in, Delhiites now face a dual crisis of harsh weather and unbreathable air, urging citizens and authorities alike to double down on efforts to mitigate the health emergency.