Delhi Chokes Again Under Thick Smog, Air Quality Turns ‘Very Poor’

The morning sun was barely visible in Delhi’s grey and smoky sky. The sir smelled of smoke, people’s eyes sting, and even a short walk felt uncomfortable. For the third day in a row, Delhi was covered with thick layer of smog, as pollution levels remained in the ‘very poor’ category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was 309, a level that is bad enough to risk health to even healthy people. The most polluted areas were with AQI 421, Jahangirpuri 404, and Wazirpur 404, where the air quality touched severe level which is very dangerous for everyone.

Across Delhi, around 14 areas reported ‘very poor’ air quality, while Sirifort 297 and Pusa 278 recorded slightly better but still unhealthy. The situation was no better in the National Capital Region (NCR). Ghaziabad reported with AQI 334, Noida 342, and Greater Noida 339 all had ‘very poor’ air, while Loni 420 crossed into the ‘severe’ zone. Early Tuesday morning readings from Vikas Sadan (314) confirmed that the city’s air remained toxic.

What’s Choking the Capital?

Delhi’s pollution does not happen only for once, but it returns every year during winter. Experts explains that when temperatures drop and wind become slower, smoke from vehicles, industries, and nearby crop burning get trapped near the ground. The mix of smoke, dust, and fog creates thick, poisonous haze that covers Delhi’s skies every November.

Crop burning in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana combined with pollution from vehicles in Delhi, construction dust, and factory smoke, makes the air even more toxic. Due to lack of strong winds to blow pollution away, it stays in the air and turn cover the entire region into pollution bowl.

While Monday saw a small improvement with the AQI dropped from 366 to 309 because of slightly stronger winds, experts warn that this relief is short-lived. Weather reports say that western disturbance will soon reduce wind speed and increase humidity. This will cause the air to stop moving and trap pollution again, worsening air quality through the week.

Health and Hope

Doctors have already started noticing more people coming with breathing problem such as coughing, throat irritation and asthma attack. Experts warn that staying in such toxic air for longer can harm to even healthy people and increase the change of lung infections and heart diseases.

Authorities have appealed to residents to stay at home as much as possible, wear N95 masks, and avoid early morning or late evening walks when pollution levels are highest. Delhi’s smog is not just a weather problem but it’s also due to poor policies and people’s habits. Unless the city makes big changes in urban transport, crop management, and waste burning, the same problem of pollution will return every winter and with the same question: When will Delhi be able to finally breathe free again?