Delhi Chokes Again at 330 AQI While North India Freezes Under Cold Wave
Delhi’s AQI stays in ‘very poor’ zone with dense smog as cold wave hits North India.
Delhi woke up to another day of suffocating smog on Sunday, with air quality dipping deep into the ‘very poor’ category and showing no sign of recovery. A dense haze enveloped the city, reducing visibility and exacerbating health concerns for residents already battling winter illnesses. Most pollution monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 300, signalling severe environmental stress for the national capital.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) highlighted alarming numbers across major hotspots. Anand Vihar clocked an AQI of 327, while other stations such as Ashok Vihar (323), Bawana (352), Chandni Chowk (308), RK Puram (325), Rohini (340) and Vivek Vihar (307) also recorded dangerous levels. By 4 pm, Delhi’s average AQI stood at 330, with 31 out of 40 stations reporting ‘very poor’ air quality. Nehru Nagar was the most polluted location of the day with an AQI of 369.
The worsening pollution follows a troubling November, during which Delhi recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 215 µg/m³, nearly double October’s levels. A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) ranked Delhi as the fourth-most polluted city in India for the month. Ghaziabad topped the list, followed by Noida and Bahadurgarh. November saw 23 ‘very poor’ days, six ‘severe’ days, and only a single ‘poor’ day, underscoring the capital’s chronic air-quality crisis.
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Though pollution levels climbed, stubble-burning contributions were lower compared to last year. Crop residue fires contributed only 7 percent on average this November, sharply down from 20 percent in 2024. Even at its peak, stubble burning accounted for 22 percent of Delhi’s pollution—far lower than last year’s high of 38 percent. Despite this decline, nine out of the ten most polluted cities in India still witnessed higher pollution compared to previous years.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast suggests slight improvements may occur due to moderate surface winds of 15–20 kmph, but smog is expected to persist. Sunday is likely to remain partly cloudy with morning mist or haze, while December 8 will bring clearer skies. From December 9 onward, Delhi will see shifting conditions, ranging from partial cloud cover to shallow fog that could deepen air stagnation between December 10 and 12.
Meanwhile, a severe cold wave swept across northern India, worsening conditions further by trapping pollutants close to the ground. States including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi witnessed a significant drop in temperatures. Kashmir recorded sub-zero nights with dense fog across the valley, while Himachal Pradesh’s mid and high hills are expected to receive light snowfall and rain, according to the Shimla Met Office. The harsh winter and rising pollution are now converging into a double blow for millions across the northern belt.
Also Read: Severe Cold Wave Grips North and East India, IMD Warns of Further Temperature Drop
