Updated: November 4, 2025 | Source: Central Pollution Control Board, Sameer App

As winter tightens its grip on the national capital, Delhi continues to choke under a dense layer of haze and pollution. The city’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the third consecutive day on Tuesday and is projected to deteriorate further, possibly touching the ‘severe’ level later in the day. Despite sporadic winds and government measures, pollution levels have shown little sign of improvement, deepening the annual public health crisis that grips the city at this time of the year.

According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Sameer app, the overall AQI for Delhi stood at 309 on Tuesday morning. The poorest air quality was recorded in Alipur, which touched a hazardous 421 on the AQI scale, falling within the ‘severe’ category. On the other hand, Sri Aurobindo Marg recorded the lowest pollution levels among monitoring stations, with an AQI reading of 152, categorised as ‘moderate’.

The CPCB’s daily bulletin, based on data collected until 4 pm on Monday, placed the city’s average AQI at 309, a marginal improvement from Sunday’s reading of 366. Despite this slight dip, the air quality remains far from healthy. Since slipping into the ‘very poor’ category at the beginning of November, the city’s air pollution has hovered around similar levels, showing no sustained trend of improvement. Experts say the stagnant weather conditions, coupled with high emissions from vehicles, industrial activity, and stubble burning in neighbouring states, are responsible for the persistent haze.

Haze blanketed large parts of Delhi throughout Monday, blurring skylines and reducing visibility. Commuters and residents alike reported irritation in the eyes and throats, while hospitals noted an uptick in respiratory complaints. For the third straight day, the 24-hour average AQI remained at 309, slightly better than the 366 recorded on Sunday but still categorised as ‘very poor’. Air in this category can cause breathing discomfort to most people, especially those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or bronchitis.

Interestingly, three of the city’s monitoring stations showed comparatively lower AQI readings on Monday, categorised as ‘moderate’. Among them was the busy ITO intersection, where the AQI stood at 188. However, this data comes with a caveat. An earlier report by Hindustan Times revealed that several hours of data from this and other stations were missing, which may have skewed the average. Data on the Sameer app even showed ITO’s AQI dropping as low as 80, or ‘satisfactory’, at 8 am on Monday — a figure experts believe is implausibly low given the city’s overall pollution levels.

The Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, which monitors and forecasts air pollution trends, has predicted that the air quality is likely to deteriorate further on Tuesday, possibly touching the ‘severe’ category before improving slightly and returning to ‘very poor’ on Wednesday. The ‘severe’ category indicates conditions that can affect healthy people and pose serious health risks to those with respiratory or cardiac issues.

The forecast attributes the expected deterioration to an approaching western disturbance, which is likely to reduce wind speed and cause atmospheric stagnation. Such conditions trap pollutants near the surface, preventing their dispersion. However, no updated forecast was issued on Monday, and the Decision Support System (DSS), which provides detailed data on pollution sources in Delhi, also remained unupdated. The DSS is a crucial tool that helps policymakers identify which pollution sources—such as vehicles, industries, construction, or crop residue burning—are contributing most to the city’s deteriorating air.

Meteorologists have also warned of worsening smog conditions over the next two days. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, said that winds began to pick up slightly on Sunday, reaching around 10 km/h before dropping again to 5 km/h on Monday. Such low wind speeds are insufficient to disperse accumulated pollutants. “A fresh layer of smog might be expected on November 4 and November 5, with the western disturbance negatively affecting AQI levels,” added Navdeep Dahiya, another meteorologist.

Delhi’s air quality crisis has long been an annual occurrence, peaking every winter due to a combination of factors. Cooler temperatures cause the air to become denser, trapping pollutants close to the surface. Agricultural stubble burning in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana adds a massive amount of particulate matter to the atmosphere, while vehicular emissions and industrial pollutants worsen the mix. Construction dust and the burning of biomass and garbage also contribute significantly.

This year, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which outlines emergency measures to combat pollution, was activated in the second half of October. The plan includes restrictions on construction, entry of heavy vehicles, and use of diesel generators, among other steps. However, despite these measures, pollution levels have continued to rise. Experts suggest that enforcement gaps and transboundary pollution sources make the city’s air crisis especially difficult to control.

The health implications of this prolonged exposure to toxic air are severe. According to medical experts, sustained AQI levels in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ range can lead to a host of health issues, ranging from coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath to more serious conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma exacerbation, and cardiovascular complications. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable. Hospitals across the city have already reported an increase in patients complaining of respiratory distress, sore throats, and eye irritation.

In addition to human health, poor air quality has environmental and economic consequences. Visibility reduction affects road safety, while pollution-related illnesses contribute to lost productivity and rising healthcare costs. Several studies have found that Delhi’s pollution levels cut short life expectancy by several years compared to national averages.

The Central Pollution Control Board continues to monitor air quality levels across over 40 stations in the National Capital Region. The data shows that while some peripheral areas report slightly better air, the overall picture remains grim. Alipur, Rohini, and Jahangirpuri continue to feature among the most polluted locations, with AQI readings above 400, firmly in the ‘severe’ range. On the other hand, areas like Lodhi Road and Sri Aurobindo Marg, which have more green cover and fewer industrial sources, show somewhat lower pollution levels.

Meanwhile, residents have been urged to limit outdoor activities, particularly during early morning and late evening hours when pollution levels tend to spike. Health advisories recommend wearing N95 masks, using air purifiers indoors, and staying hydrated. Schools have been advised to restrict outdoor sports and assemblies during high pollution days.

The Delhi government and civic agencies are under increasing pressure to intensify anti-pollution measures. These include street cleaning using water sprinklers, deploying smog guns at construction sites, and increasing inspections to curb illegal waste burning. Yet, environmentalists argue that these short-term interventions can only do so much in the absence of systemic change. They call for stronger coordination between states, better public transport systems to reduce vehicular emissions, and stricter implementation of emission norms for industries.

As the city braces for another smog-laden week, the air in Delhi once again serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained action. With forecasts predicting further deterioration before slight relief, the capital’s residents are left with little choice but to endure — hoping that clearer skies may return as the winds pick up later in the week.

For now, Delhi’s battle with pollution continues, with its skies growing darker, its air heavier, and its citizens struggling to breathe freely in their own city.