Delhi Pollution: Delhi’s air has taken a nosedive again, smothering the city and putting everyone on edge. On Saturday, the Air Quality Index hovered at 392—dangerously close to the ‘severe’ mark
Toxic Air Engulfs the Capital
Some spots like Wazirpur (435), Vivek Vihar (424), ITO (420), and Nehru Nagar (426) shot past 400. The numbers are enough to make anyone uneasy, and city officials aren’t taking any chances. They’re scrambling to keep things from getting even worse and triggering Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan, which pretty much means full-blown emergency mode.
The Commission for Air Quality Management has told every agency to step up. That means more dust control, bans on construction, and stricter checks on car emissions. Meteorologists aren’t surprised by this mess. They blame it on slow winds, colder nights, and all that crop burning just outside the city. “Pollutants are just hanging in the air, not going anywhere,” one senior IMD scientist admitted.
AIIMS Expert Shares 5 Precautions for Residents
Delhi Pollution: Dr Rahul Chawla, a neurologist from AIIMS, laid out five ways to protect yourself right now:
- Keep your windows and doors shut. The only exception? Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.—that’s when it’s a bit safer to let some fresh air in.
- Wear an N95 mask if you have to go outside, especially if you’re older, have kids, or deal with breathing or heart issues.
- Skip the morning jogs or any outdoor workouts. Do your exercise indoors instead—don’t risk breathing in more of those tiny PM2.5 particles.
- Get an air purifier that actually fits your room. It helps cut down on the bad stuff inside your home.
Drink plenty of water. And if you start coughing, feel tightness in your chest, or start wheezing, see a doctor—don’t brush it off.
Dr. Chawla also suggests working from home if you can, and if someone in your house is especially vulnerable, think about getting them somewhere with cleaner air for a while.
Capital Gasping for Breath
Right now, Delhi feels like it’s gasping for breath. Hospitals are filling up with people complaining of breathing trouble, irritated eyes, and allergies. Experts warn that if this keeps up, Stage 3 restrictions are right around the corner.
So for now, stay careful. In Delhi these days, clean air is starting to feel like a rare luxury.
