Delhi Chokes Under Thick Fog & Hazardous Air Quality

Delhi witnessed another morning of dense fog and smog on Wednesday, with major landmarks such as India Gate and Kartavya Path barely visible around 7:40 AM.

As the city grappled with low visibility, the Air Quality Index hovered around 350, putting conditions in the ‘very poor’ category.

A heavy blanket of smog settled over central Delhi, including the busy ITO corridor, where early morning commuters faced hazardous conditions.

The AQI remained close to 350 at several points, reflecting persistent pollution that showed little sign of dispersing.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 337, offering only marginal improvement from Tuesday.

Out of 39 monitoring stations across the Capital, 34 recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, while the remaining five reported levels in the ‘poor’ range.

Pollution Hotspots Continue to Suffocate

Several high-intensity pollution zones faced worsening conditions by 7 AM.

Rohini registered an alarming AQI of 376. Other severely affected areas included Delhi Technological University (367), Anand Vihar (364), Bawana (382), Ashok Vihar (364), Burari (347), Alipur (344), ITO (360) and Dwarka (361).

All these locations remained firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, with some edging towards ‘severe’.

The wider NCR region also struggled to breathe. Noida’s stations continued to show dangerous levels of pollution, with Sector 125 recording an AQI of 399 — nearly breaching the severe threshold.

Other areas such as Sector 1 (355), Sector 62 (304) and Sector 116 (372) also reported very poor air quality.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi forecasts that pollution is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category from 26 to 28 November.

Conditions may fluctuate between ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ over the next six days as winter intensifies and atmospheric circulation remains unfavourable.

Historical CPCB data underline the gravity of the situation. Over the past week, Delhi recorded consistently hazardous AQI levels: 391 (Sunday), 370 (Saturday), 374 (Friday), 391 (Thursday), 392 (Wednesday), 374 (Tuesday) and 351 (Monday).

Foggy Weather to Persist

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate fog on Wednesday.

Temperatures are expected to remain around 24°C (maximum) and 9°C (minimum), conditions that may trap pollutants closer to the ground and prolong the smog spell.

Delhi’s deteriorating air quality remains a critical concern as the city battles one of its most persistent winter pollution phases.

Also Read: Delhi-NCR’s Air Quality Dips Further; Sparks Widespread Health Worries