Delhi wakes to dense fog and a very poor AQI (377 at 7am); hotspots including Ashok Vihar, Chandni Chowk and AIIMS logged severe levels. Health tips and latest response.
Delhi Wakes Up to Fog and Smog
Delhi woke to a foggy morning as the city’s air quality slid back into the very poor band, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 377 recorded at 7am and multiple monitoring sites reporting values in the severe category. On Saturday the city had logged an AQI of 303, rising from 218 a day earlier — showing a rapid deterioration that commuters and residents felt in visibility and breathing comfort.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed several stations crossing the 400 mark: Ashok Vihar, Burari Crossing, Chandni Chowk, Jahangirpuri and Wazirpur were among the worst-affected areas, pushing local AQI readings into the severe range and signaling hazardous exposure for sensitive groups. Notably, the AIIMS area recorded an AQI of 421, underlining the health risk across central monitoring points.
Meteorological conditions contributed to the situation: shallow fog predicted by the IMD combined with cooler night temperatures and limited wind dispersion trapped pollutants near the surface, intensifying smog and reducing daytime visibility. The combination of post-festival emissions, vehicular traffic and local hotspots has created concentrated pockets of pollution across north and central Delhi.
In response, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa inspected anti-pollution measures and said 13 pollution hotspots are being prioritised for action; departments have begun road renovation and dust control measures with projects cited at more than ₹400 crore for improvements including permanent misting/water-sprinkler systems and traffic management steps. Officials said extra monitoring and enforcement are underway at the identified hotspots.
