Toxic haze blankets Delhi, children learn online, work halts
Delhi woke up on Monday under a thick, toxic haze, forcing schools to shift classes online and bringing construction activity to a halt as the capital struggled with dangerously high air pollution levels. The choking smog reduced visibility across the city, disrupting daily life and delaying flights and train services, while residents were urged to stay indoors.
The city’s air quality index (AQI) soared to alarming levels, measuring pollution far beyond what is considered safe. According to government data, Delhi’s average AQI early on Monday stood at 471, placing it firmly in the “severe” category. This level is more than 30 times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization, raising serious concerns about public health, especially for children, the elderly, and those with existing heart or respiratory conditions.
The AQI measures PM2.5 — extremely fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs — along with other harmful pollutants. Prolonged exposure to such toxic air can lead to breathing difficulties, worsen asthma, trigger heart problems, and even affect otherwise healthy people. Doctors warn that repeated episodes of severe pollution can have lasting health impacts.
Poor air quality is a recurring reality for Delhi and its surrounding areas, particularly during the winter months. The problem is driven by a combination of factors, including industrial emissions, heavy vehicle exhaust, falling temperatures, low wind speeds, and the seasonal burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states. Together, these conditions trap pollutants close to the ground, forming a dense layer of smog over the city.
The sharp deterioration in air quality came after a brief period of relative improvement. Over the past week, Delhi’s AQI had fluctuated between “poor” and “very poor,” offering residents a short-lived sense of relief. However, since Saturday, pollution levels have surged again, erasing those gains.
On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) responded by invoking the highest level of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), escalating measures from Level III to Level IV. Under these emergency restrictions, older diesel trucks have been barred from entering the capital, construction activities have been suspended, and schools have been instructed to switch to hybrid learning models. Younger children, considered more vulnerable, are required to attend classes online.
The impact of the pollution crisis has extended beyond schools and worksites. India’s Supreme Court also issued a circular advising lawyers and litigants to appear virtually for hearings, reducing the need for travel in hazardous conditions.
CAQM officials said the sudden spike in pollution was caused by high moisture levels and a shift in wind direction, which prevented pollutants from dispersing and encouraged smog formation. Authorities have advised residents to limit outdoor activity, wear masks when stepping out, and keep windows closed where possible.
The health toll of Delhi’s pollution remains a major concern. Between 2022 and 2024, more than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness were reported at six government hospitals in the city, highlighting the human cost of repeated exposure to toxic air.