The air quality in Delhi slipped into the ‘severe’ category after the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 400 on Thursday. Fresh data revealed that the quality of air was “okay” for only two days between November 1 and November 19.
CPCB on toxic haze
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that the presence of toxic haze over the National Capital Region formed a blanket, and pollutants remained trapped due to low wind speed and dipping temperatures.
As per CPCB data, Wazirpur was the worst-affected area, with its AQI reaching 477, which falls into the ‘severe’ category, while Lodhi Road recorded 269 — the lowest AQI in the national capital.
According to the CPCB benchmark, an AQI between 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.
Stubble contribution drops
A report suggested that the contribution of stubble burning was lower compared to the last few years. In 2024, stubble burning worsened air quality by contributing 22%, while in 2023 its contribution was 38%. The condition of air quality was deplorable between November 11 and 13.
Year-round factors that led to pollution include vehicle emissions, toxic smoke from industries, power plants, and the burning of waste — all of which affected air quality.
Toxic air triggers health issues
The poor quality of air has led to several airborne diseases related to the lungs, along with breathing issues and allergies.
The November data is critical, and it suggests that the government should come up with more viable solutions to curb pollution in the Delhi region.
