Delhi Suffers Under Hazardous Air Quality As Winter Grips City

Delhi remained blanketed in toxic smog on Sunday, with no improvement in pollution levels as cold weather tightened its hold over the region.

The Air Quality Index surged past the 400 mark in several parts of the city, placing the national capital firmly in the ‘severe’ category—an AQI range that poses serious health risks for all residents.

At 8 AM, CPCB data recorded alarming figures: Ashok Vihar at 421, Rohini at 422, ITO at 417 and Punjabi Bagh at 410. According to CPCB guidelines, an AQI between 401 and 500 signals hazardous conditions, severely impacting even healthy individuals.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa highlighted that PM10 emissions from construction sites, dust-laden roads and heavy traffic congestion remain the primary contributors to the current pollution spike. He added that the government is intensifying efforts to identify and address pollution hotspots across the city.

Sirsa further noted that industrial emissions drifting from units relocated to neighbouring states are compounding the crisis, contributing significantly to Delhi’s already toxic air.

Winter Conditions Worsen Smog Formation

The sharp fall in temperatures is exacerbating the situation. Lower atmospheric movement and increased moisture are allowing dust and pollutants to settle close to the ground, resulting in thick layers of smog.

Visibility across several parts of the city dropped sharply in the early hours.

According to IITM Pune’s Decision Support System (DSS), stubble burning contributed 16.3 per cent to Delhi’s pollution load on Saturday.

Vehicular emissions, however, were the highest contributors at 18.3 per cent. DSS projections indicate that stubble burning will account for 14.5 per cent of pollution on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast mist or shallow fog during the morning hours over the next two days, with partly cloudy skies expected on November 18 and 19.

Temperatures are likely to remain low, with the maximum hovering between 24°C and 26°C and the minimum expected to settle around 12°C.

Alongside Delhi’s worsening smog situation, the IMD has also issued severe cold-wave warnings for several parts of central India, signalling a further dip in temperatures in the coming days.

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