Newsroom, November 09, 2025: Delhi's air quality deteriorated sharply on Friday, with the overall AQI climbing from 337 in the morning to 380 by evening, marking one of the season's worst days. By 10 p.m., the hourly reading touched 385, pushing 20 out of 36 monitoring stations into the severe category.
The spike stemmed from low temperatures at 11°C, fueling biomass and waste burning for warmth, combined with unchecked construction dust and inadequate road cleaning. Residents reported eye irritation, throat pain, and breathing troubles, halting outdoor activities like walks or cycling. Thick grey fog slashed visibility, blanketing parks and skylines. Experts noted November's AQI improved from last year in six of seven days, crediting early preventive steps under GRAP 2, but GRAP 3 remains off as levels stay below 400.
DPCC urged avoiding open burning, while housing societies were told to switch to electric heaters. CM Rekha Gupta extended Ujjwala benefits to slums for cleaner fuel, and departments ramped up dust suppression and repairs. Construction sites over five floors must run anti-smog guns until November 29, with staggered office hours continuing to ease traffic emissions.
