Delhi and its neighboring regions were engulfed in dense smog on Wednesday, November 13, with air quality plunging to hazardous levels and visibility falling to near-zero in many areas. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” range, with Anand Vihar reaching an alarming AQI of 413 at 10 AM—a significant jump from 334 the day before. Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir classified Delhi’s air as “hazardous,” with some areas showing AQI levels surpassing 1,000, marking Delhi as the most polluted city globally.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), visibility in some areas dropped to just 100 meters by 8 AM due to dense fog, with zero visibility recorded at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, causing flight delays and diversions. The IMD described the fog as “very dense,” adding to the pollution crisis that has persisted for 15 days.
Meteorologists warn that the situation is unlikely to improve soon, as stagnant weather patterns, high humidity, and low wind speeds are expected to keep AQI in the “very poor” range for at least the next six days.
Health concerns are mounting as more residents report respiratory issues linked to the poor air quality. A recent survey found that over 80% of Delhi families have experienced health problems due to the pollution. In response, the Delhi government has enacted its Graded Response Action Plan, enforcing restrictions on coal and firewood use and limiting diesel generator operations
