Barely two days after a fleeting improvement, air pollution in Delhi-NCR has roared back with vengeance. Multiple neighborhoods now languish in the red zone, with Ghaziabad’s Loni recording an alarming AQI of 400, signaling severe health risks.
According to the latest bulletins from key monitoring bodies, Delhi’s air remains ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ across swathes of the city. Notable hotspots include Chandni Chowk at 365, Wazirpur at 375, Shadipur at 355, and Siri Fort at 359. Other areas like Rohini (345), Sonia Vihar (357), and Ashok Vihar (342) also crossed the 300 mark, joining Alipur (310), Bawana (312), Burari Crossing (321), Vivek Vihar (344).
Ghaziabad bears the brunt, with Indirapuram (355), Vasundhara (337), and Sanjay Nagar (268) adding to the woes. In Noida, sectors such as 125 (328), 116 (284), 1 (275), and 62 (268) report hazardous levels.
IMD’s outlook for the next three days forecasts mild weather with mist, highs of 24-26°C, and lows around 10-11°C. Calm winds are exacerbating the issue by keeping fine particles suspended in the atmosphere.
Pollution watchers emphasize that only a shift in meteorology—brisk winds or precipitation—can disperse the toxic haze. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities, especially vulnerable groups. This relapse highlights the fragility of air quality gains in the region, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of anti-pollution protocols.