Delhi Battles Hazardous Air as AQI Climbs to Alarming Levels

Delhi greeted Friday morning under a dense layer of contaminated air, with pollution levels escalating sharply in the city. At 8:00 am, the overall Air Quality Index(AQI) touched 384, categorising it as ‘very poor’, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Some neighbourhoods faced even harsher conditions. Mundka reported the city's highest pollution level at 436, followed closely by Rohini at 432. Other pockets, including Anand Vihar (408) and Jahangirpuri (420), slipped into the ‘severe’ bracket, mirroring a widespread decline in air quality across the National Capital Region.

The surrounding areas displayed a similar trend. Noida entered the ‘severe’ zone with an AQI of 404, while Greater Noida (377) and Ghaziabad (350) registered ‘very poor’ air conditions.

CPCB’s early-morning readings showed that 19 out of 39 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded AQI levels above 400. Localities such as Punjabi Bagh (417), RK Puram (418), Wazirpur (416), and Narela (407) witnessed severe pollution. Iconic areas, including Chandni Chowk (408), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (401), and Burari Crossing (403), also suffered dangerously high pollution.

This surge follows a series of heavily polluted days. On Thursday, the city reeled under a thick haze, recording an AQI of 377. The 24-hour average AQI for the week fluctuated significantly, 382 on Monday, 352 on Tuesday, 327 on Wednesday, and 377 on Thursday. indicating unstable yet consistently unhealthy air.

As per CPCB norms:

0–50: Good

51–100: Satisfactory

101–200: Moderate

201–300: Poor

301–400: Very Poor

401–500: Severe

Delhi’s pollution sources remain varied. Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology revealed that vehicular emissions contributed 19.5%, making it the largest pollution source on Thursday. Contributions from neighbouring regions included Ghaziabad (8.2%), Baghpat (7.3%), while stubble burning added 0.7%.

In a parallel development, schools across Delhi resumed full physical classes on Thursday. This followed the Commission for Air Quality Management's decision to withdraw GRAP Stage-3 restrictions after a brief dip in pollution earlier in the week. The Directorate of Education also rolled back hybrid-learning guidelines issued earlier this month.

Despite small improvements, the latest data highlights that Delhi’s air quality remains a pressing public concern requiring sustained attention and stronger regulatory action.