Delhi Grapples With ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality With Freezing Winter Conditions

Delhi began the New Year under a heavy blanket of pollution, with air quality continuing to remain in the ‘very poor’ category. Residents woke up to foggy skies and biting cold, as low temperatures and calm winds trapped pollutants across the city.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Delhi stood at 372, signalling sustained high pollution levels.

Reduced wind speeds and cold conditions have prevented the dispersion of fine particulate matter, leaving the air heavily contaminated.

Several air quality monitoring stations reported dangerously high values.

Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 418, followed by Wazirpur at 414. Other areas such as Rohini (413), Ashok Vihar (392), RK Puram (381), ITO (371), Chandni Chowk (377) and Siri Fort (384) also recorded very poor air quality.

Neighbouring cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) struggled similarly, with Noida at 364, Ghaziabad at 338, and Greater Noida at 336, all remaining in the ‘very poor’ category.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a generally cloudy sky for Thursday, with the possibility of very light to light rain in isolated areas.

Dense fog in the morning and cold daytime conditions further aggravated the situation.

Wednesday was noted as the coldest day in Delhi since 2019, with the maximum temperature falling to 14.2°C, 6.2 degrees below the seasonal average.

The combination of low temperatures, high humidity, and stagnant winds contributed both to discomfort among residents and the worsening of air quality.

CREA Report Flags Persistent Health Risks

A recent analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that Delhi remained the most polluted city in the NCR in 2025, followed by Ghaziabad and Noida.

While annual average PM2.5 levels showed a slight decline compared to 2024, pollution during the critical October–December period increased.

The study revealed that PM2.5 readings at all 40 monitoring stations in Delhi were at least 1.8 times higher than the annual standard, highlighting persistent health risks.

Data coverage in the NCR also remains uneven, with only 14 of 29 cities reporting PM2.5 levels for over 75 per cent of the year.