Delhi-NCR Struggles with Rising Pollution as AQI Slips Back Into ‘Poor’ Category

New Delhi: The national capital and its surrounding regions woke up to a blanket of haze on Sunday as Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed back to 270 at 6 a.m., categorising the city’s air as ‘poor’, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Although marginally better than the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ conditions seen earlier this week, the improvement provides little comfort. Pollution levels remain high enough to pose health risks, particularly as winter inversion begins trapping particulate matter closer to the ground.

High wind movement offers brief respite, but hotspots remain critical

Officials attributed the slight dip in pollution levels to improved surface wind movement on Saturday evening, which helped disperse some of the stagnating pollutants. However, the relief was limited and uneven across the city.

Several localities recorded AQI figures edging toward the ‘very poor’ band. Shadipur (336) emerged as the worst-affected zone of the day, followed by RK Puram (308)—both falling in the ‘very poor’ category. These readings suggest a high probability of respiratory distress even among people with no underlying medical conditions.

Other pollution-prone pockets—including Burari (283), Bawana (295), Sirifort (295), Wazirpur (282), Chandni Chowk (281), Anand Vihar (281), Narela (279) and Punjabi Bagh (266)—remained firmly in the ‘poor’ category.

In contrast, Mandir Marg (157) was the only area to record air quality in the ‘moderate’ range, showcasing how hyper-local factors such as green cover, elevation, and traffic density influence AQI.

NCR cities show similar patterns

Neighbouring NCR cities reported parallel trends:

• Gurugram: AQI 233 (‘poor’)
• Noida: AQI 267 (‘poor’)
• Ghaziabad: AQI 262 (‘poor’)
• Faridabad: AQI 178 (‘moderate’)

The overall regional air quality remains fragile, driven by winter inversion, vehicular emissions, construction dust, and residual crop-burning pollutants that linger in the atmosphere.

Residents report health discomfort despite improvement

Many residents stepping outdoors early Sunday experienced eye irritation, throat discomfort and mild breathlessness. According to India’s AQI categorisation, levels between 201 and 300 can cause breathing problems, especially during prolonged exposure or heavy physical activity.

As winter progresses, pollution levels are expected to fluctuate sharply due to changes in wind speed, humidity, and nighttime temperature dips that trap pollutants at lower altitudes.

Experts issue fresh health advisories

Pulmonologists and environmental health experts continue to advise:

• Limiting outdoor activity during early mornings and late evenings
• Using N95 masks when pollution levels spike
• Running indoor air purifiers where possible
• Avoiding outdoor exercise in high-pollution zones
• Increasing fluid intake to reduce throat irritation

With smog episodes likely to intensify through December and January, officials reiterate the need for sustained emission-control measures, including strict monitoring of construction sites, traffic regulations, and curbs on biomass burning.