Delhi’s air quality has plunged to alarming levels, reaching a stage where doctors are calling it “life-threatening.” With the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring above 400 in several parts of the city, experts warn this has become a public health emergency. Research now clearly shows that long-term exposure to such pollution can significantly reduce life expectancy.
On Friday morning, Delhi recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 370, marking the eighth consecutive day of air quality in the “very poor” bracket. More than 18 monitoring stations — including Chandni Chowk, Anand Vihar and Narela — registered readings in the “severe” category.
Forecasts by the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Air Quality Early Warning System indicate that the crisis may persist for at least a week, with the capital likely to remain under “very poor” to “severe” conditions.
According to IITM’s Decision Support System, vehicular pollution is the biggest contributor to the toxic air, accounting for around 17.3% of PM2.5 levels. Meanwhile, stubble burning continues to add to the problem, though at a lower 2.8%. On Wednesday alone, 16 farm fire cases were recorded in Punjab, 11 in Haryana, and 115 in Uttar Pradesh.
A recent LocalCircles survey revealed how deeply the crisis is affecting people: 80% of households in Delhi-NCR reported at least one family member falling ill over the past month, while 36% said four or more individuals suffered respiratory or pollution-related symptoms. Coughing, burning eyes, asthma flare-ups, headaches, and chest congestion have become widely reported concerns.
Doctors stress that while air purifiers and masks may offer limited individual protection, these are temporary defenses. Long-term solutions require strong policy interventions that target pollution sources at scale.
Dr. Anant Mohan from AIIMS Delhi emphasized the severity of the situation:
“This level of pollution is extremely dangerous and has been worsening for nearly a decade. Despite efforts, there has been little real change. It’s not just the lungs anymore — other organs are being impacted. We are seeing more emergency cases, some requiring ventilation. It must be treated as a public health emergency.”
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