New Delhi, November 3, 2025 — The national capital awoke Monday morning under a blanket of thick, grey haze, as air quality continued its steep deterioration, signaling the onset of the region hazardous winter pollution season.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and its Sameer app data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for Delhi registered at 316, firmly placing the city in the ‘Very Poor’ category. Alarmingly, 28 of the city monitoring stations recorded readings surpassing the 300 mark, with some pockets likely nearing the ‘Severe’ category (401-500).
The current ‘Very Poor’ status (AQI 301-400) indicates that prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory illness even in healthy people, and seriously affects those with pre-existing conditions like asthma, heart, or lung diseases.
Meteorological Conditions Compound the Crisis
Despite the arrival of cooler temperatures the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a minimum temperature of 17.9°C, slightly above the seasonal average the weather patterns are compounding the pollution crisis. Low wind speeds and the presence of mist, with humidity recorded at 64% at 8:30 am, create unfavorable conditions for pollutant dispersion.
The lack of strong winds effectively traps fine particulate matter 2.5 and 10 close to the ground, allowing pollutants from local sources including vehicular emissions, construction dust, and regional farm fires to accumulate rapidly.
Health Experts Issue Advisory
With the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) forecasting that the air quality is likely to remain ‘Very Poor’ for the coming days, health experts are issuing strong advisories, particularly to vulnerable populations .
The general public is advised to:
- Minimize outdoor physical activity and strenuous exercise.
- Wear N95 or KN95 masks when stepping outside.
- Keep windows and doors closed to limit indoor exposure.
For children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, staying indoors and avoiding all unnecessary outdoor exposure is strongly recommended until pollution levels show significant improvement.
The persistent failure to contain local and regional pollution sources at the beginning of the crucial winter months highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of anti-pollution measures across the National Capital Region.