Toxic smog engulfs Delhi as critics and residents ring alarm bells, share disturbing stats, pics

Delhi is covered in smog as pollution levels rise rapidly.

Delhi's air has reached a breaking point, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to "severe plus" levels in several areas, crossing a shocking 700 in Jahangirpuri and remaining above 450 in most parts of the city. The toxic smog—a noxious blend of smoke, dust, and fog—has pushed the capital into a public health emergency, forcing authorities to impose drastic measures under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

As visibility plummeted, airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet warned of potential delays at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where low-visibility procedures are now in place.

The situation has been exacerbated by stagnant cold air, calm winds, and a relentless influx of smoke from illegal stubble burning in neighbouring states. The India Meteorological Department predicts persistently poor air quality, with minimal wind speeds failing to disperse pollutants. Delhi’s minimum temperature is expected to dip further, reaching 14°C by November 18.

Social media users started posting pictures of the visibility in Delhi urging authorities to tackle the problem that plagues the national capital every year during winter months.

Kaushik Basu, the former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, wrote: “For any responsible government in India, the top priority should be pollution control in cities like Delhi. In addition to diminishing the quality of life, this kind of pollution, left unchecked, can bring India’s growth story to an end.”

More critics joined in the conversation.

Delhi. Now. Something like this would get any civilised society to outrage like nothing else. pic.twitter.com/XDXQlErQTa
Abhinandan Sekhri (@AbhinandanSekhr) November 17, 2024

Dear Delhi. This is how clean air and water looks like !! pic.twitter.com/UZWAFPfPK9
Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) November 18, 2024

Delhi pollution will kill more people than COVID, over time. This is not fog. pic.twitter.com/T1ic9II4SV
Ayush Jaiswal (@aayushjaiswal07) November 17, 2024

An AQI of 50 is considered safe and acceptable. In Delhi it has touched 999.932 babies were born in Delhi yesterday. They are all breathing in this air - acrid, stinging, poisonous, with burnt stubble residues, equivalent of chain-smoking 30 cigarettes. What is their fault? pic.twitter.com/K6J6N5mhuY
Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) November 18, 2024

It is our collective pollutionJust keeps moving from one place to another with the windsAt one point itll choke Lahore, at other DelhiWe are in this togetherNo one would be sparedpic.twitter.com/u4uc10jxrz Shekhar Dutt (@DuttShekhar) November 17, 2024

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced the suspension of physical classes for students, except for those in Classes 10 and 12.