Despite Delhi recording AQI above 400, marathons and cyclothons went ahead; public debate erupts as experts warn of health risks and visibility problems.
Delhi Marathon Held Amid 400+ AQI as Smog Blankets the Capital
Delhi woke to a dense blanket of smog as fitness events — including an Indian Air Force marathon and city cyclothons — went ahead even while the city’s Air Quality Index hovered around the 400 mark (severe). Video clips and social posts of celebrities flagging off the run sparked a sharp debate online, with many users calling it reckless to organise mass outdoor exercise amid hazardous air.
The IAF-organised Sekhon Marathon was flagged off from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and drew participants for 10 km and 5 km runs. Other events over the weekend included a cyclothon at the PNB Head Office in Dwarka and a nationwide “Fit India Sunday on Cycle” drive promoted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Organisers said the events promoted fitness and sustainable transport, but critics pointed to immediate health risks for participants.
Central Pollution Control Board data showed multiple monitoring stations in Delhi recording ‘severe’ AQI readings above 400, with Wazirpur logging the highest at 439; twenty other stations recorded readings in the ‘very poor’ bracket above 300. Experts warned that low wind speeds and fog had trapped pollutants near the surface, and predicted air quality would likely remain poor for several days.
