Delhi’s air quality worsened sharply on Sunday, November 2, as the pollution level entered the ‘severe’ category with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reading above 400. Just a day earlier, the AQI stood at 303, showing a major rise in pollution within 24 hours.

Thick smog and fog covered several parts of the national capital, leading to poor visibility. According to ANI, the air quality around AIIMS Delhi was among the worst, recording an AQI of 421, which falls under the ‘severe’ range.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a layer of shallow fog mixed with smoke was seen over many parts of Delhi. Officials explained that the combination of fog and smoke made visibility extremely poor, especially during morning hours.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also confirmed that air quality across most monitoring stations in Delhi was either in the ‘severe’ or ‘very poor’ categories. At 8 am, AQI levels at various locations were reported as follows:

At 8 am on Sunday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings across several parts of Delhi painted a grim picture. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 298, while Alipur stood at 258. 

Areas like Ashok Vihar (404), Chandni Chowk (414), Dwarka Sector-8 (407), and Punjabi Bagh (403) all fell into the ‘severe’ category. Other major locations also reported alarming numbers, ITO (312), Mandir Marg (367), Okhla Phase-2 (382), Patparganj (378), RK Puram (421), Lodhi Road (364), Rohini (415), and Sirifort (403). 

Most of these readings show that Delhi’s air was heavily polluted, with several areas crossing the 400-mark, the level at which breathing becomes unsafe, even for healthy people.

Authorities have already implemented Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control the situation. This includes measures such as stopping construction activities, increasing mechanical road cleaning, and sprinkling water on dusty roads.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has also announced that parking fees in Delhi will be doubled to discourage people from using private vehicles. The revised rates apply to both off-road and indoor parking managed by NDMC.

Despite these efforts, experts warn that unless weather conditions improve and emissions reduce, the city’s air quality may remain poor in the coming days. Residents have been advised to limit outdoor activities, especially early in the morning and late at night, when pollution levels are usually at their peak.