Delhi Wakes to Dense Smog as AQI Hits 359 Amid Severe Pollution Alerts

Delhi residents woke to a suffocating blanket of dense smog on Monday morning, as the city-wide average Air Quality Index (AQI) registered 359 by 7 AM, entrenched in the 'very poor' category despite the stringent Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-III measures enforced across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) since November 11. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data revealed minimal overnight improvement from Sunday’s 385 AQI, with visibility severely hampered and a stinging haze lingering over residential areas, highways, and iconic sites, forcing commuters to navigate through near-zero clarity.

Bawana emerged as the epicenter of the crisis, clocking a hazardous AQI of 427—deep into the 'severe' bracket that triggers immediate health warnings—while NSIT Dwarka provided marginal relief at 225 in the 'poor' range. Other pollution hotspots painted a grim picture: ITO at 394, Punjabi Bagh at 384, Chandani Chowk at 383, Anand Vihar at 383, RK Puram at 366, Patparganj at 369, and Pusa at 365, all classified as 'very poor'. Iconic landmarks like India Gate and Kartavya Path vanished under a toxic veil with an AQI of 341, capturing viral images of obscured monuments that underscore the escalating environmental emergency.

Temperatures hovered around 9°C, with some pockets dipping lower, intensifying the biting cold laced with particulate matter. According to CPCB classifications, an AQI exceeding 401 falls into 'severe', posing risks of respiratory distress even for healthy individuals. GRAP-III, imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), enforces sweeping curbs including a halt on non-essential construction and demolition, bans on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, suspension of in-person classes up to Class 5 with a shift to hybrid or online modes, restrictions on non-clean fuel industrial operations, and prohibition of non-emergency diesel generators to curb emissions at the source.

Also Read: Delhi Air Quality Plunges to ‘Very Poor’; Citizens Protest Amid Rising Health Fears

The Supreme Court has stepped in decisively, ordering the governments of Punjab and Haryana to submit detailed status reports on anti-stubble burning initiatives, a major seasonal contributor to Delhi’s winter pollution spike. A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran emphasized urgent compliance, highlighting how unchecked farm fires in neighboring states exacerbate the NCR’s air quality woes through wind-borne smoke.

Since Diwali festivities, Delhi-NCR has remained trapped in persistent 'very poor' to 'severe' air quality zones, with GRAP-III measures yet to yield substantial relief amid rising hospital admissions for breathing issues. As millions face prolonged exposure to elevated PM2.5 levels, experts warn of long-term health impacts, urging stricter enforcement and regional cooperation to avert a full-blown public health catastrophe.

Also Read: Delhi Suffocates as Air Quality Hits ‘Severe’ Category; IMD Issues Cold-Wave Alerts Across India