Delhi and its surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) are reeling under a toxic cocktail of severe air pollution and unrelenting cold waves. As winter tightens its grip, the air quality index (AQI) has plummeted to ‘severe’ levels, forcing residents to breathe poisonous air while battling sub-zero temperatures.
Thick smog blankets the city skyline, reducing visibility to mere meters and triggering health emergencies across hospitals. Doctors report a surge in respiratory cases, with children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions bearing the brunt. ‘Patients are gasping for clean air; the pollution is exacerbating winter ailments like asthma and bronchitis,’ said a senior pulmonologist at a major Delhi hospital.
The cold snap has dipped nighttime temperatures to 4°C in Delhi, with fog adding to the misery by disrupting flights, trains, and road traffic. Commuters wrap themselves in shawls and masks, but the dual assault offers little respite. Schools remain shut in several districts, and construction activities halted under GRAP Stage IV measures.
Experts blame stubble burning in neighboring states, vehicular emissions, and industrial effluents for the pollution spike. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed strict curbs, including a ban on non-essential trucks entering Delhi and odd-even vehicle rationing. Yet, wind speeds remain low, trapping pollutants near the ground.
Residents are advised to stay indoors, use air purifiers, and wear N95 masks outdoors. As the crisis deepens, calls grow louder for long-term solutions like cleaner public transport and stricter farm residue policies. For now, the people of NCR endure this environmental ordeal, hoping for a meteorological turnaround.