Delhi’s air quality turns ‘very poor’ as multiple areas breach severe levels, NCR also affected

Delhi AQI

Delhi’s air pollution crisis deepened on Tuesday as the capital’s air quality was officially categorised as ‘very poor’, with several monitoring stations reporting levels so hazardous they breached the ‘severe’ threshold.

The smog-laden air prompted health complaints from residents and visible distress from visitors, underscoring the persistent environmental emergency.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 309 as of 7 am. However, this figure masked alarming hyper-local disparities. The monitoring stations at Wazirpur (403) and Jahangirpuri (402) recorded AQIs in the ‘severe’ category, with Bawana (396), Anand Vihar (392) and Rohini (392) hovering on the brink.

The CPCB data, cited in an early morning report, listed numerous other areas, including Vivek Vihar, Burari Crossing and Narela, with AQIs above 380.

The pollution was not confined to Delhi’s boundaries. The National Capital Region (NCR) also choked under a ‘very poor’ blanket, with an AQI of 314 recorded at Vikas Sadan. The situation was particularly dire in parts of Ghaziabad, where the Loni monitoring station reported a ‘severe’ AQI of 420.

The human impact of the deteriorating air was palpable. A foreign visitor, Shane, described to ANI the palpable worsening of conditions upon approaching the city. "It's pretty bad. I came from Agra by bus and as I got closer to Delhi, the smog became thicker," he said. "You could definitely tell the difference... to the point where I could even barely see the sun anymore."

In response to the escalating crisis, authorities have intensified mitigation efforts. Truck-mounted water sprinklers and other dust control measures have been deployed across several parts of the city in an attempt to settle particulate matter. The measures come as Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remains in effect, a protocol triggered by a sustained period of poor air quality that began after Diwali.

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast clear skies for the city, it also warned of smog during the early morning hours, a phenomenon that has become a grim seasonal hallmark for the capital.

As a thick haze continued to linger over landmarks like the Akshardham area, where the AQI was recorded at 392, the data presents a stark challenge for a metropolis grappling with an annual environmental siege.

The AQI scale, which classifies a reading between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor’ and 401-500 as ‘severe’, indicates that air quality is unhealthy for the general population, with more serious risks for children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.