Delhi chokes on toxic smog following recent festival celebrations

Delhi woke up to hazardous breathing conditions on Monday morning, with overall air quality plunging to 366. Fifteen monitoring stations logged Delhi AQI levels past the 400 threshold just hours after Diwali festivities concluded. Smog enveloped multiple neighbourhoods during the early hours, severely limiting visibility. Weather officials at the India Meteorological Department issued specific warnings for dense to very dense fog. This alert covers South-East Delhi, East Delhi, Shahdara, as well as the North, South, and Central districts.

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Worst hit locations and political reactions

Pollution monitors registered alarming figures across the city. Sonia Vihar reached 449, Burari Crossing hit 445, and Vivek Vihar recorded 441. Jahangirpuri and North Campus followed closely at 439 and 437. Other severely impacted zones included Rohini at 435, DTU at 431, and Bawana at 424. Locations like Chandni Chowk, Patparganj, Mundka, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, ITO, and the Commonwealth Sports Complex all reported figures above 400. Political representatives exchanged heated remarks over the recurring winter crisis. RJD Member of Parliament Manoj Jha questioned both central and local authorities regarding year-round preparedness. He stated that top national leaders share responsibility for the situation. Conversely, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra accused political rivals of targeting Hindu festivals under the guise of environmental concerns. Winter months routinely bring severe respiratory challenges to northern India due to temperature inversions and crop residue burning. To combat the current spike, authorities maintain Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan throughout the national capital region.