Environmental scientists described the situation as a “public health emergency.
Delhi’s Toxic Air Sparks Public Health Emergency as AQI Repeatedly Breaches ‘Severe’ Mark
Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Friday, plunging several neighbourhoods into the “severe” category as toxic smog tightened its grip over the capital. According to real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded a “24-hour average AQI of 370” at 9 am—marking the “eighth straight day” of ‘very poor’ air, with “over 18 monitoring stations” crossing the ‘severe’ 400–450 range, including Anand Vihar, Bawana, Wazirpur, Mundka, and Narela.
Environmental scientists described the situation as a “public health emergency”, with experts pointing out that nearly “80 per cent of households” in Delhi-NCR have reported at least one family member falling ill due to polluted air in the past month. A LocalCircles survey cited widespread complaints of persistent cough, burning eyes, wheezing, headaches, aggravated asthma, and severe respiratory distress.
Doctors from AIIMS warned of a “10–15 per cent surge in pollution-linked hospital cases”. Dr Anant Mohan of AIIMS said the pollution in Delhi is “absolutely severe and life-threatening”, adding that he has seen many patients requiring ventilator support. He stressed that pollution now affects “every physiological system—the heart, brain, lungs, mental health, even unborn children,” underscoring evidence that long-term exposure reduces life expectancy.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ “Air Quality Early Warning System”, Delhi’s pollution is expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ zone for the next “six days”, driven by stagnant winds and winter inversion. Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System estimated that “vehicular emissions contributed around 17 per cent” to PM2.5 levels on Thursday, while “stubble burning contributed nearly 3 per cent”, with both expected to dip slightly.
Neighbouring NCR cities also choked: “Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 431, Noida touched 400, and Greater Noida logged 377.
Public frustration is rising, with protesters — including young children — gathering at India Gate and Jantar Mantar demanding decisive action. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court urged authorities to defer school sports events, saying that forcing children outdoors in such conditions was akin to making them train in gas chambers.”
With smog thickening and winter setting in, experts and citizens alike are calling for year-round, systemic solutions, not just short-term panic responses.
