NEW DELHI, November 18, 2025 – While Delhi’s overall air quality registered a marginal improvement on Tuesday morning, moving to an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 341 (Very Poor) at 6 am, several key hotspots, including Jahangirpuri, continued to reel in the life-threatening ‘Severe’ category.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app, Jahangirpuri recorded a toxic AQI reading of 414 by 6 am on Tuesday. This placed it firmly in the ‘Severe’ zone (AQI 401-500), along with Wazirpur (410) and Bawana (419), indicating an air quality that “affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.”
Fifth Day of Toxic Air
Tuesday marked the fifth consecutive day the national capital and its adjoining areas have been blanketed by ‘very poor’ air. The city’s average AQI of 341 was a slight decrease from Monday’s 359 and Sunday’s 377, a minor relief attributed to winds picking up to 15 km/hr over the weekend.
However, the localized severe pockets like Jahangirpuri underscore the persistent, acute pollution crisis. The toxic air is further compounded by localized sources, with reports and photos showing garbage burning along the South Side GT Road in Ghaziabad’s Industrial Area, sending up black smoke and adding to the rising pollutant levels across the NCR.
GRAP Stage 3 Continues Amid Cold Snap
Stage 3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remain in effect in the National Capital Region (NCR), having been triggered since November 11 after the AQI initially surged into the ‘Severe’ category.
Adding to the difficult conditions, Delhi is experiencing a notable winter chill. The minimum temperature on Monday dropped to 8.7 degrees Celsius (°C) four notches below the seasonal normal and the lowest minimum for November since 2022.
Forecast: No Immediate Respite
The Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi forecasts no immediate relief, predicting that the air quality is likely to deteriorate again and touch the ‘Severe’ zone until Wednesday before settling back into the ‘Very Poor’ category until November 20.
In a related development, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to impose sweeping, year-round pollution-control measures like a construction ban or broad vehicular limits, with the bench observing that the Capital “cannot be brought to a standstill” in the name of fighting toxic air, citing the impact on daily wage workers.
Meanwhile, Ghaziabad registered an overall AQI of 401 on Monday, briefly becoming the most polluted city in the country, highlighting the regional nature of the crisis.