New Delhi Faces Crisis as Smog Engulfs the City, Air Quality Plunges

New Delhi is grappling with a severe air quality crisis as several areas in the capital have entered the "severe" Air Quality Index (AQI) zone. A thick blanket of smog has descended upon the city, leading to hazardous conditions for residents.

On Saturday, November 8, 2025, the 24-hour average AQI for Delhi stood at 361 at 4 p.m., according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The situation worsened by 6 p.m., with the AQI climbing to 372. These figures place Delhi among the most polluted cities in the nation. The CPCB's Sameer app, which monitors real-time data from 39 stations across the city, revealed that at least 15 of these stations recorded AQI levels at or above the 400 mark at 6 p.m.

Areas experiencing "severe" pollution levels include Alipur (417), ITO (408), Punjabi Bagh (404), Nehru Nagar (407), Patparganj (403), Ashok Vihar (402), Sonia Vihar (401), Jahangirpuri (409), Rohini (408), Vivek Vihar (415), Narela (412), Wazirpur (424), Bawana (424), Chandni Chowk (400) and Burari Crossing (420). The neighboring National Capital Region (NCR) is also affected, with Noida recording an AQI of 354, Greater Noida 336, and Ghaziabad 339, all classified as "very poor".

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast that the city's air quality will remain in the "very poor" category in the coming days. Since Diwali, Delhi's air quality has fluctuated between "poor" and "very poor," occasionally reaching "severe" levels.

The primary pollutants contributing to the crisis are PM2.5 and PM10. Factors contributing to the worsened air quality include stubble burning in neighboring states, vehicle emissions, dust, construction activities, and weather conditions. Satellite imagery from Friday showed 100 incidents of stubble burning in Punjab, 18 in Haryana, and 164 in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality forecasting, stubble burning contributed approximately 30% to Delhi's pollution.

The Delhi government has implemented several measures to combat the pollution, including staggered office timings to reduce traffic congestion until February 15, 2026. The Public Works Department (PWD) will deploy 200 truck-mounted anti-smog guns across the city between October 2025 and February 2026, at a cost of Rs 58.8 crore. Additionally, the government has mandated the installation of anti-smog guns in all buildings above G+5 floors.

Despite the severe air quality, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 3 has not yet been enforced. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) stated that the city's air quality this November has been comparatively better than the same period last year, due to coordinated pollution control measures.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered "good," 51-100 "satisfactory," 101-200 "moderate," 201-300 "poor," 301-400 "very poor," and 401-500 "severe," according to CPCB standards. The current situation poses significant health risks to Delhi residents, with symptoms such as burning eyes, sore throats, and itchy noses becoming common.