Delhi Suffocates Under Toxic Air as AQI Crosses 400 in Multiple Zones
New Delhi, Nov 9: The national capital is once again gasping for breath as air quality plunges to hazardous levels.
On Saturday, Delhi entered the “Red Zone,” with the Air Quality Index (AQI) breaching the 400 mark in several localities, prompting urgent government action and public health warnings.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average AQI stood at 361 by 4 PM, up from 322 the previous day. Wazirpur (AQI 420), Burari (418), Vivek Vihar (411), Nehru Nagar (406), Alipur (404), and ITO (402) are among the worst-hit zones.
The toxic haze has extended beyond Delhi, engulfing the National Capital Region (NCR) and parts of North India. Noida (AQI 354), Greater Noida (336), Ghaziabad (339), and Panipat (310) are reporting “very poor” to “severe” air quality levels. In Ghaziabad’s Vasundhara, AQI hit 353, while Noida’s Sector 62 recorded 309.
Health experts have issued advisories urging children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions to avoid outdoor exposure.
The Delhi government, facing mounting pressure, is preparing stricter pollution-control measures. However, its artificial rain plan has failed to yield results.
Delhi now ranks second among India’s most polluted cities, trailing only behind hotspots like Ghaziabad and parts of western Uttar Pradesh. The CPCB warns that AQI levels above 400 are classified as “severe,” posing serious health risks.
