Delhi’s air quality is deteriorating rapidly, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 376 early Wednesday, approaching the “severe” category, while several areas have already surpassed 400 under a dense layer of smog. Chandni Chowk recorded the highest AQI at 431, followed by Nehru Nagar at 436, and neighborhoods such as Jahangirpuri, Jawahirpuri, and Bawana also crossed severe levels. Out of 39 monitoring stations tracked by the Central Pollution Control Board, at least 14 to 19 reported AQI above 400, largely due to stagnant winds trapping pollutants. Even areas like Anand Vihar and Rohini remain heavily affected, showing how calm winter weather amplifies the haze.

The polluted air, filled with PM2.5, PM10, and gases like NO2 and CO, poses serious health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma or heart conditions. Residents are reporting increased respiratory irritation, coughing, and eye discomfort, with children often restricted from outdoor play. Prolonged exposure in extreme pollution can even reduce life expectancy by several years.

Several factors contribute to this worsening smog. Transport emissions account for roughly 18% of pollution, while crop burning in neighboring states, dust, and industrial emissions further exacerbate the situation, intensified by low wind speeds below 10 kmph. Although northwesterly winds briefly improved air quality over the weekend, calm conditions have returned, and forecasts suggest very poor air will persist through at least December 5.

Authorities and experts advise staying indoors during peak pollution hours, using N95 masks outdoors, and running HEPA filters at home to reduce exposure. Long-term measures like promoting electric vehicles and enforcing stricter bans on stubble burning are crucial to breaking this recurring cycle. Cleaner winters in Delhi will require both small daily habits and broader policy changes to make a lasting difference.