A deadly cocktail of pollution, cold winds, and dense fog has pushed Delhi-NCR’s air quality into crisis mode, with AQI levels rocketing beyond 400. What was once a bustling metropolis now resembles a ghost town shrouded in hazardous haze, severely impacting daily life and health.
The meteorological conditions couldn’t be worse. Calm winds under 5 km/h have created a perfect trap for PM2.5 and PM10 particles, which refuse to rise and disperse. Foggy mornings have compounded the issue, reducing visibility to mere tens of meters and paralyzing airport operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International.
From iconic India Gate to busy markets in Noida, a uniform grey pall hangs over the skyline. GRAP’s strictest measures are in force: schools closed for physical classes, odd-even vehicle rationing, and bans on diesel generators. Yet, the AQI graphs show little mercy, with Anand Vihar clocking 460 and Dwarka hitting 428.
Residents are resorting to N95 masks and air purifiers as desperation grows. ‘I can taste the pollution,’ says local resident Priya Singh, struggling with persistent cough. Medical facilities are overwhelmed, with emergency rooms filling up faster than usual.
While authorities deploy anti-smog towers and water sprinkling campaigns, critics point to systemic failures. Stubble burning continues despite promises, and Delhi’s 1,200 CNG buses seem inadequate against 10 million private vehicles. As the cold intensifies, urgent calls grow for regional cooperation to combat this annual scourge before it claims more lives.