Delhi-NCR continued to remain under a thick blanket of toxic haze on Sunday, with several monitoring stations recording an air quality index (AQI) above 400, categorised as ‘severe’. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average AQI stood at 386 in the ‘very poor’ range — only a point lower than Saturday’s figure.

AQI remains severe across major stations

Areas such as Anand Vihar, Bawana, Burari, Punjabi Bagh, and Wazirpur reported severe pollution levels early in the morning. At 7 am, the AQI in Anand Vihar was 412, Bawana 436, Burari 405, ITO 417, Punjabi Bagh 409, and Wazirpur 435. Even the IGI Airport station recorded a high AQI of 338, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. Najafgarh and other pockets of the city also continued to breathe hazardous air.

In the neighbouring NCR region, Noida recorded an AQI of 435, Greater Noida 452, Ghaziabad 448, and Gurgaon 377. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has forecast no immediate improvement, predicting that air quality will remain between ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ in the coming days.

Pollution sources show high vehicular and stubble burning contribution

Delhi’s pollution is being driven by multiple sources, with vehicular emissions contributing the highest share at 18.3 per cent on Saturday, according to the Decision Support System (DSS) developed by IITM, Pune. Stubble burning accounted for 16.3 per cent of the pollution load on the same day.

Satellite data recorded 104 farm fires in Punjab, 24 in Haryana, and 129 in Uttar Pradesh. DSS projections indicate that stubble burning will contribute around 14.5 per cent of Delhi’s pollution on Sunday. Experts warn that low wind speeds and falling temperatures are worsening the accumulation of pollutants near the surface.

Residents struggle as cold wave intensifies

The city also witnessed its coldest night of the season on Saturday, with temperatures dipping to 9.7°C — 3.8 degrees below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The maximum temperature was logged at 26.6°C, nearly 2 degrees below normal.

Low temperatures and high humidity further contribute to the formation of smog, trapping pollutants and reducing visibility. This combination of winter chill and deteriorating air quality has raised health concerns, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses.

CPCB categorisation highlights severity

The CPCB classifies AQI between 0–50 as ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’. Prolonged exposure to the ‘severe’ category can trigger respiratory distress even among healthy individuals.

Conclusion

With no change in weather patterns expected and pollution sources remaining active, Delhi-NCR residents may have to endure extended periods of hazardous air. Authorities continue to urge citizens to minimise outdoor exposure and take precautionary health measures.