Air Quality Eases Across Delhi-NCR; Several Areas Still In ‘Severe’ Zone

Residents of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced a slight reprieve on Tuesday as weather conditions marginally improved air quality and visibility.

North-westerly surface winds helped disperse the dense fog and haze that had engulfed the city a day earlier.

The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 381, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, compared to ‘severe’ levels recorded on Monday.

Stronger wind movement during the morning hours reduced fog density, providing clearer conditions across areas including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram.

Despite the improvement, several locations continued to report ‘severe’ pollution.

Wazirpur recorded the highest pollution, with an AQI of 434, followed closely by Jahangirpuri at 430. Other locations such as Mundka, Delhi Technical University (DTU), and Nehru Nagar reported AQI readings between 424 and 420, remaining firmly in the ‘severe’ bracket.

Delhi had witnessed its worst day of the winter season on Sunday, when the AQI spiked to 461, followed by 427 on Monday, highlighting the persistent and hazardous nature of air pollution in the region.

The toxic haze has also disrupted air travel.

On Monday, poor visibility led to the cancellation of 228 flights at Delhi Airport, including 131 departures and 97 arrivals. Five flights were diverted to other airports due to unsafe landing conditions.

According to India’s air quality classification, AQI values above 400 fall under the ‘severe’ category, carrying grave health risks.

Between 2022 and 2024, over two lakh cases of acute respiratory illnesses were reported in six Delhi government hospitals amid rising pollution levels.

Government Measures and Court Advisory

In response, the Delhi government directed schools to move classes for students up to Grade 5 online.

The Delhi High Court advised lawyers and litigants to opt for virtual hearings, given the prevailing hazardous conditions.

Health studies continue to underscore the dangers of prolonged exposure to polluted air.

A 2024 study published in The Lancet estimated that air pollution contributes to approximately 1.5 million additional deaths annually in India.

The 2025 Air Quality Life Index report by the University of Chicago identified air pollution as the country’s most serious health risk, reducing average life expectancy by 3.5 years.

Delhi-NCR residents face an estimated reduction of 4.74 years in life expectancy.

Globally, air pollution remains the second leading cause of premature death, accounting for nearly 7.9 million deaths in 2023, according to the State of Global Air Report 2025.

Also Read: Delhi-NCR Shrouded In Dense Smog As Air Quality Hits ‘Severe’ Levels