Delhi’ NCR Air Pollution

Delhi’s Air Pollution Status

Here’s a summary of the current air-quality situation in Delhi (as of late October 2025) and what you should know:

Measurements show that Delhi’s air quality is in the “Very Poor” to “Hazardous” category. For example, on 22 October, the AQI was around 345 at 7 am.
At some stations, the AQI exceeded 400, and at least one source reported an AQI of ~502 at Punjabi Bagh.
Key pollutant levels:
- PM2.5 (fine particles) and PM10 (coarser particles) are very high.
- Example: one reading showed PM2.5 = 223 µg/m³ and PM10 ~337.5 µg/m³ in Delhi.
The worsening air quality correlates with factors such as celebrations (e.g., the festival of lights), cooler temperatures trapping pollution, and regional sources (like crop-burning).

With AQI in the “Very Poor” to “Hazardous” zone, everyone may begin to experience adverse health effects; for sensitive groups (children, elderly, people with breathing issues), the risk is greater.
Recommended precautions:
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, especially early morning or late evening when air is most polluted.
- Consider wearing an N95/FFP2 mask if you must be outdoors.
- On days when the haze is heavy, keep windows closed, and use indoor air purifiers if available.
- Reduce exposure to smoke, dust and other sources of indoor pollution.
- Be especially careful if you have asthma, chronic bronchitis, heart disease or other respiratory conditions.

Seasonal transition to winter means cooler air and weaker winds, which trap pollutants.
Use of fireworks (for festivals like Diwali) leads to sudden spikes in particulate matter.
Nearby agricultural practices (e.g., crop-residue burning in neighbouring states) contribute to the haze.
Traffic, construction dust and industrial emissions add to the mix.