Delhi air quality: Capital continues to choke under ‘very poor’ smog, AQI soars past 440 in key areas

Delhi AQI

Delhi remained shrouded in a hazardous blanket of pollution on Friday, with air quality deteriorating sharply to ‘severe’ levels in multiple areas, prompting authorities to activate the highest emergency measures.

The persistent toxic smog, compounded by dense fog, severely disrupted aviation and led to urgent health advisories for the city’s residents. At 6 am, the capital's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 387, in the ‘very poor’ category, a decline from 356 the previous morning.

Official data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) painted a grim picture with numerous localities in a far more critical state. Key monitoring stations, including Ghazipur (442), ITO (409) and Palam (447), recorded AQIs in the ‘severe’ band (401-500). On Thursday, 15 of Delhi’s 40 monitoring stations had registered ‘severe’ pollution.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all actions under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), its most stringent tier, across the Delhi-NCR region in response to the escalating crisis.

Visuals from the ITO area, shared by news agency ANI, depicted a thick, grey layer of smog engulfing the city's landmarks. Specific pollution hotspots reported alarming readings. Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar and Sirifort all logged 442, while Dwarka Sector-8, Nehru Nagar and Okhla Phase-2 also remained deep in the ‘severe’ zone.

The crisis extended beyond ground-level health concerns. Dense fog significantly hampered operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where flight schedules were thrown into disarray. Authorities implemented CAT III landing conditions — a protocol for very low visibility — leading to delays and cancellations. Delhi International Airport Limited advised passengers to contact their airlines for real-time flight information, noting that on-ground teams were coordinating to manage disruptions.

Health authorities have issued stern warnings, urging children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions to minimise outdoor exposure. The prolonged inhalation of ‘severe’ category air poses substantial risks of aggravated asthma, lung inflammation and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.

Analysis from the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management, cited in the reports, indicates transport remains the largest single contributor to Delhi’s particulate pollution at 18.3%. Industrial sources in the city and surrounding NCR account for 9.2%.

Notably, the data underscores a significant external burden: pollution from neighbouring districts in Haryana, such as Jhajjar (12.3%) and Sonipat (8.8%), contributes substantially to the capital’s toxic load.

While GRAP Stage-IV measures, which include a ban on certain vehicles and potential restrictions on non-essential construction, are now in force, the immediate forecast offers little respite.

The combination of stagnant atmospheric conditions, local emissions and regional pollution transport continues to choke the national capital, turning a public health and environmental challenge into a full-blown operational crisis for the city.