Delhi residents woke up to dangerously polluted air on Tuesday morning as a thick blanket of smog and fog engulfed the national capital, pushing air quality levels deep into the severe zone. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that air quality index readings crossed 400 at 27 monitoring stations across the city, while several locations slipped into the even more alarming severe plus category.
At 9 am, the overall air quality index of Delhi stood at 415, marking a sharp deterioration from the very poor category recorded a day earlier. Out of 40 air quality monitoring stations, 27 reported readings above 400, a level associated with serious health risks for all age groups. Five stations recorded severe plus pollution, indicating extremely hazardous air conditions.
Anand Vihar emerged as the worst-affected area with an AQI of 470, followed by Nehru Nagar at 463. Okhla and Mundka recorded AQI readings of 459 each, while Sirifort reported a level of 450. According to pollution control standards, any AQI reading above 401 is classified as severe and can cause respiratory distress even among healthy individuals.
Weather conditions further aggravated the situation as dense fog reduced visibility across Delhi. At Palam, visibility dropped to as low as 50 metres early in the morning, accompanied by west-southwesterly winds blowing at 5 kilometres per hour. Safdarjung recorded visibility of around 100 metres under calm wind conditions at the same time.
Visibility improved slightly by 8.30 am, with Palam reporting 100 metres and Safdarjung 150 metres, but fog continued to linger through the morning hours, affecting road and air travel across the city.
The India Meteorological Department reported that Delhi’s minimum temperature fell to 8.8 degrees Celsius, which is slightly above the seasonal average by 1.3 degrees. The maximum temperature for the day is expected to hover around 23 degrees Celsius. Weather officials have forecast dense fog conditions to persist through the day, adding to the already challenging winter conditions.
According to Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, air quality levels between 401 and 500 fall under the severe category and can lead to serious health effects, including respiratory illness, aggravated asthma, and cardiovascular stress. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions face heightened risks as pollution levels remain critically high.
As winter deepens and emissions remain trapped near the surface due to low wind speeds and temperature inversion, authorities continue to urge residents to limit outdoor exposure while reiterating the need for sustained pollution control measures across the capital.