Delhi woke up under a dense blanket of smog on Monday, December 15, 2025, as air pollution worsened sharply across the city. The overall Air Quality Index settled at 498, placing it at the higher end of the severe category and pushing the capital into a public health emergency zone.
According to official data, air quality remained severe at 38 monitoring stations, while two stations reported very poor conditions. Jahangirpuri recorded the worst air quality among all 40 stations, with an AQI reading of 498.
The situation appeared even more alarming in certain industrial pockets of the city. The Wazirpur air quality monitoring station touched the maximum possible AQI value of 500 during the day, beyond which the Central Pollution Control Board does not record data. This highlighted the intensity of pollution exposure faced by residents in these areas.
As per pollution control standards, an AQI between 401 and 500 is categorised as severe, indicating serious health risks even for healthy individuals and severe impacts on people with existing respiratory or heart conditions.
Pollution levels have surged over the past two days due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. On Sunday, Delhi recorded an AQI of 461, making it the most polluted day of the winter season so far and the second-worst December air quality day on record.
Experts said weak surface winds and low temperatures have prevented pollutants from dispersing, allowing them to accumulate close to the ground. The India Meteorological Department noted that average wind speeds below 10 kilometres per hour are insufficient to clear suspended particulate matter from the atmosphere.
Political blame game resurfaces as pollution worsens
As air quality deteriorated to seasonal lows, political tensions also escalated. The Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party traded accusations over responsibility for the pollution crisis, with both sides blaming policy failures and lack of coordination between state and central agencies.
Despite repeated warnings from environmental experts, long-term structural solutions continue to remain elusive, even as emergency measures are rolled out each winter.
Forecasts suggest that residents should brace for continued exposure to polluted air. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the severe category in the immediate term, before easing slightly to very poor levels over the next six days.
The India Meteorological Department also stated that the maximum temperature during the day is expected to hover around 25 degrees Celsius, with no significant change in wind patterns that could provide relief from pollution.
Health concerns grow as toxic air lingers
Doctors and public health experts have repeatedly warned that prolonged exposure to severe air pollution can worsen asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, and other respiratory conditions. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing illnesses, face the highest risks.
With no swift improvement expected, residents have been advised to limit outdoor activities, use protective masks where possible, and follow health advisories issued by authorities.