Delhi’s toxic air refuses to clear for the ninth consecutive day, leaving the city trapped under a blanket of thick smog despite the enforcement of GRAP Stage-III. While the Air Quality Index (AQI) fluctuated slightly, overall pollution levels remained extremely hazardous, with Wazirpur emerging as the most polluted locality, recording a shocking AQI of 468.
Delhi’s AQI: Dips Slightly, But Air Remains Dangerous
Early Thursday morning, Delhi’s AQI spiked to 401 at 3 am, before settling at 391 by midday — still firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.
Despite brief dips below the ‘severe’ threshold, experts warn that the next 48 hours may be even worse, with Saturday expected to show a significant deterioration.
Neighbouring Cities Also Choke Under Pollution
Delhi isn’t alone. NCR cities continue to report alarming AQI levels:
- Ghaziabad: 430
- Noida: 408
- Greater Noida: 380
- Gurugram: 302
- Faridabad: 255
Smog remains widespread, affecting visibility, public health, and daily life across the region.
Wazirpur Records Worst Air Quality at 468
Several parts of Delhi continue to remain in the ‘severe’ category. Major affected areas include:
- Ashok Vihar: 429
- Bawana: 437
- Burari Crossing: 412
- Chandni Chowk: 405
- DTU: 427
- Dwarka Sector-8: 416
- Jahangirpuri: 445
- Mundka: 440
- Nehru Nagar: 420
- Okhla Phase-2: 404
- Patparganj: 404
- Punjabi Bagh: 424
- RK Puram: 423
- Rohini: 438
- Siri Fort: 406
- Sonia Vihar: 404
- Vivek Vihar: 424
Wazirpur topped the chart with a dangerous 468 AQI, making it the worst-affected locality in the capital.
Noida, Greater Noida Face Hazardous Air Too
In Noida, several sectors remained severely polluted:
- Sector 116: 439
- Sector 1: 424
- Sector 125: 424
- Sector 62: 347
Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park-5 stood at 442, while Knowledge Park-3 recorded an AQI of 335.
Ghaziabad’s Loni Becomes Pollution Hotspot
Across the border, Ghaziabad saw its worst pollution spike in Loni, where the AQI touched 443 — the highest in the district.
Other severely polluted areas include:
- Indirapuram: 428
- Vasundhara: 429
- Sanjay Nagar: 420
Forecast: No Relief in Sight
Pollution levels are expected to remain:
- Very Poor on Friday
- Severe on 22 November
- Slightly improving but still Very Poor on 23 November
Experts warn that low wind speeds — predicted to stay below 5 kmph on 21–22 November — will prevent pollutants from dispersing.
Stubble Burning Not a Major Factor This Week
Contrary to common assumptions, stubble burning played only a minor role in Delhi’s smog this week.
Farm fires contributed just 2.8%, while:
- Vehicular emissions contributed 17.3%
- Local pollution sources continue to dominate
Restrictions Under GRAP-III Remain in Force
GRAP Stage-III restrictions — including curbs on construction, demolition activities, and selective vehicle entry bans — were imposed on 11 November when AQI hit 428.
Even though pollution briefly dipped to 387 on 14 November, authorities decided to continue restrictions due to ongoing poor air quality.
For now, residents must brace for more smog-laden days, burning eyes, breathing discomfort, and visibility issues as winter sets in and pollution refuses to ease.
