New Delhi — The Indian capital woke up to an apocalyptic scene on Friday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) breached the 700 mark in several areas, turning the air unbreathable and the skyline an eerie grey. The thick smog that enveloped the city was not just a visual reminder of environmental neglect but a tangible public-health emergency.
By mid-morning, official data from multiple monitoring stations across Delhi showed AQI readings hovering between 680 and 750, far above the “severe” threshold of 400. In localities such as Bawana, Anand Vihar, and Jahangirpuri, readings topped 770 — levels at which even healthy individuals are at risk of respiratory distress.
Experts say the spike was inevitable. “The meteorological conditions have turned unfavourable — calm winds, temperature inversion and moisture have trapped pollutants close to the surface,” said Dr Gufran Beig, founder-project director of the SAFAR-India air-quality forecasting system. “When you add stubble-burning smoke from Punjab and Haryana to Delhi’s local emissions, it becomes a toxic soup.”
Causes Behind the Crisis
The timing of the smog episode coincides with the peak stubble-burning period in north India. Satellite imagery from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute detected over 2,900 farm-fire incidents in Punjab alone on Thursday, a jump of 45 % compared to the previous day. Winds from the north-west carried this smoke toward the capital region, where it mixed with vehicular exhaust, road dust and industrial emissions.
Adding to this mix is the lingering residue of Diwali firecrackers, despite official bans. Night-time celebrations last week pumped additional particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) into an already saturated atmosphere.
Construction dust and unpaved roads have also worsened the load. According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), over 30 % of PM 2.5 in the city originates from dust sources — a figure that rises sharply during dry, windy spells. But this week, ironically, the wind has gone still, locking everything in place.
Health Fallout
Hospitals across Delhi and the NCR are witnessing a worrying uptick in patients complaining of breathlessness, coughing and throat irritation. “We have seen a 30 % rise in emergency visits for respiratory distress in just two days,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, pulmonologist and former AIIMS director. “Even people without chronic illness are experiencing symptoms like fatigue and burning eyes.”
The World Health Organization classifies PM 2.5 concentrations above 60 µg/m³ as unsafe; Delhi’s current readings exceed 500 µg/m³ in some pockets. Long-term exposure at such levels can aggravate asthma, heart disease and even lead to premature deaths. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, as are outdoor workers such as rickshaw-pullers, construction labourers and street vendors.
Schools have already begun responding. The Delhi government ordered closure of all primary classes and switched senior grades to online mode for the next several days. Masks are being distributed in government schools, and advisories urge parents to keep children indoors.
Government Response
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal convened an emergency review meeting with the environment and transport departments. Among the measures reactivated are the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV, which mandates the closure of stone-crushers, hot-mix plants, and non-essential construction activities.
Vehicular restrictions are also on the table. The government is considering re-introducing the odd-even traffic scheme, under which cars with odd and even number plates operate on alternate days. While controversial and difficult to enforce, officials argue it reduces traffic emissions by up to 15 %.
At the same time, water-sprinkler trucks and anti-smog guns have been deployed along arterial roads, and mechanized sweepers are working overtime. However, experts caution that these surface-level measures cannot solve the structural causes of air pollution.
“The problem is regional,” said Sunita Narain, director-general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). “Until Punjab and Haryana provide viable alternatives to crop burning and Delhi cuts dependence on fossil-fuel-based transport, the crisis will recur each winter.”
Public Outrage and Daily Hardships
Residents have taken to social media to share images of Delhi’s now-invisible landmarks — India Gate and Qutub Minar obscured by smog, airplanes vanishing into a thick haze at IGI Airport. Morning joggers are absent from parks; those who must venture out wear N95 masks. Food-delivery workers and two-wheeler riders complain of burning eyes and headaches after prolonged exposure.
Taxi driver Mohammed Rafiq, who works near Connaught Place, said: “Every breath feels heavy. Even when the windows are closed, the car smells like smoke.”
Air purifiers have sold out in several electronic stores. Online marketplaces reported a 200 % surge in demand for masks and filters within 48 hours.
Environmental Alarm Bells
Meteorologists predict that without a change in wind direction or rainfall, pollution levels will remain “severe to hazardous” for at least the next 72 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) does not expect strong north-westerly winds until early next week.
Environmental activists are once again calling for long-term policy reforms: electrification of transport, regional crop-management programs, and stricter enforcement against industrial polluters. “Short-term bans and emergency steps are like band-aids on a chronic wound,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, a senior policy analyst. “We need year-round air-quality management, not just crisis control.”
A Capital Under Siege
As Delhiites navigate through a cloud of dust and smoke, the psychological toll is also mounting. Schools, offices, and even daily routines are disrupted. Visibility on major expressways like the Yamuna Expressway and NH-48 has dropped to less than 200 metres at dawn.
The city — home to over 20 million people — has once again earned the grim title of the world’s most polluted major metropolis, according to IQAir’s live ranking.
For now, Delhi remains trapped in a haze of its own making, waiting for the winds of change — literally — to blow the poison away.
