The air quality in Delhi improved slightly on Thursday, moving from the ‘severe’ category to ‘very poor’ as the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 304, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Despite the improvement, several areas in the city continued to experience dangerously high pollution levels, prompting residents to report eye irritation and breathing difficulties.
Data from the CPCB showed AQI levels in different parts of the city as of Thursday morning: at 7 am, Delhi Technological University (DTU) recorded 261, Pusa saw 281, ITO had 284, Lodhi Road registered 250, and Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (T3) stood at 301— all falling within the ‘poor’ category. However, some areas recorded AQI levels in the ‘severe’ range, including Dwarka Sec 8 (332), Jahangirpuri (354), Sonia Vihar (315), Wazirpur (330), Ashok Vihar (318), and Bawana (341) as of 8 am.
Chittaranjan Tripathi, a local resident, pointed to the growing number of vehicles on the road, despite government restrictions, as a major contributor to the worsening air quality. “The main problem is the vehicles,” he said. “People prefer driving or using bikes even for short distances. The elderly and children are the most affected. They are struggling with breathing problems and eye irritation. Everyone is wearing masks now.”
Others shared similar concerns. Chandra Bhardwaj, who was out for her morning walk, said the increasing pollution had led to fewer people venturing outdoors. “Earlier, you’d see many people walking, including children, but now it’s all empty. Pollution is making it hard to breathe, and my eyes are burning. This has been a long-standing issue, but the government hasn’t taken sufficient action.”
Vijay Kumar, another resident, added, “The air feels toxic. Children can’t even go to school properly because of it. The pollution is causing a burning sensation in the eyes, and it’s a serious problem.”
Ayush Bharadwaj, a student from Chhattisgarh, also expressed his struggles with the harsh environment. “I came here to study from a place that’s very green, and the difference is huge. Breathing here is tough, and the air quality makes it hard to survive.”
For Kanishka, a student from Rajasthan, the effects were also evident. “My eyes hurt, and my throat feels itchy. Breathing is difficult because of the pollution.”
Thursday morning also saw a thick layer of smog blanket many areas of the city, including Barapulla, Akshardham, and Patparganj. Drone footage captured alarming visuals of toxic foam covering the surface of the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj, which has been persisting for several days due to high pollution levels in the water.
In response to the rising pollution, the Delhi government has deployed truck-mounted water sprinklers to help reduce the impact of the pollution. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court intervened, directing the Delhi government and the police to set up checkpoints at all 113 entry points to the city to stop trucks from entering. The court also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s compliance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV measures, which had been activated in response to the severe pollution levels. GRAP-IV includes restrictions like a ban on trucks entering the city and halting public construction projects.
According to the CPCB’s air quality scale, AQI values between 0-50 are considered ‘good,’ 51-100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101-200 ‘moderate,’ 201-300 ‘poor,’ 301-400 ‘very poor,’ and 401-500 ‘severe.’ Despite the measures in place, the air quality in Delhi remains a pressing concern, with residents demanding more long-term solutions.