A choking blanket of toxic smog settled over Delhi and the National Capital Region on Sunday, plunging the city into a hazardous haze that blurred visibility and deepened an already alarming air quality crisis. What had been a ‘severe’ pollution level only a day earlier surged further, as residents woke to a pall of thick, acrid air that seemed to hang oppressively over streets, parks, and neighbourhoods alike.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to a perilous 461 at 7 am, up from 431 on Saturday. Every one of Delhi’s 40 air quality monitoring stations reported readings in the ‘severe’ category, with several teetering near the maximum measurable limit. Rohini bore the brunt with an AQI of 499, Bawana at 498, Vivek Vihar 495, and Ashok Vihar and Wazirpur each registering 493. Other hotspots included Narela at 492 and Anand Vihar at 491.

Across the city, the haze rendered the morning surreal. ITO recorded 485, Mundka 486, Punjabi Bagh 478, Nehru Nagar 476, and both Chandni Chowk and Okhla stood at 470, a stark reflection of the pervasive, smothering pollution blanketing the capital.

The crisis extended beyond Delhi. Across the National Capital Region, Noida registered an alarming 470, Ghaziabad 460, Gurugram 348 (‘very poor’), and Faridabad 220 (‘poor’), underscoring the widespread reach of the toxic air.

Dense fog compounded the smog, reducing visibility to near zero in many areas. The hazardous conditions prompted authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport to activate low-visibility protocols. Flights continued to operate, though pilots navigated under heightened caution amid the thick morning murk. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that visibility could fall to as little as 100 metres in the early hours before gradually improving to around 800 metres later in the day as the shallow fog lifted.

Meteorologists said the stagnation of weather conditions, coupled with lingering emissions and the enveloping fog, created a perfect storm for deteriorating air quality. Residents were urged to take precautions as the hazardous air posed severe health risks, particularly for the elderly, children, and those with respiratory conditions.

As Delhi and its neighbouring cities struggle under the weight of this invisible, poisonous haze, the capital’s skies serve as a stark reminder of the environmental and health challenges that continue to plague the metropolis.

With IANS inputs