NEW DELHI: Delhi woke up to choking smog on Saturday as air pollution tightened its grip on the capital, pushing the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) dangerously close to the ‘severe’ category. By Saturday, the city’s AQI had climbed to 387, reflecting a steady deterioration through the week and raising fresh health concerns for residents, especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments. A dense mix of smog and shallow fog reduced visibility in several areas during the early morning hours, adding to commuters’ discomfort. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a majority of Delhi’s monitoring stations continued to report ‘very poor’ air, with several hotspots flirting with ‘severe’ levels. Jahangirpuri remained among the most polluted pockets of the city, while industrial and traffic-heavy areas such as Wazirpur, Rohini and Anand Vihar also recorded alarming readings. Officials attributed the worsening air quality to persistently low wind speeds, which have prevented the dispersion of pollutants. “Light winds are prevailing over the region, trapping emissions near the surface. Though western disturbances are expected to affect the region, they are weak and unlikely to bring immediate relief,” an official said. Forecasts from the air quality early warning system for Delhi indicate that pollution levels are likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ range through Saturday, with a strong possibility of slipping into the ‘severe’ category on Sunday if conditions do not improve. Data from the Decision Support System (DSS) showed that transport emissions were the single largest contributor to Delhi’s pollution load on Saturday, followed by industrial activity in the city and its outskirts. Contributions from neighbouring NCR districts such as Jhajjar and Sonipat also continued to add to the capital’s pollution burden. On the weather front, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said temperatures are expected to rise slightly due to the influence of a western disturbance. The minimum temperature is likely to hover around 10–12 degrees Celsius over the weekend, while the maximum may remain between 23 and 25 degrees Celsius. Moderate fog is expected to persist, further compounding air quality concerns. With pollution levels inching closer to the ‘severe’ mark, authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activities and follow health advisories as Delhi braces for another difficult winter smog episode.
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