Delhi's Toxic Smog Sparks Widespread Health Concerns

By John Pranay (Editor)

A hazardous air quality situation has unfolded in Delhi, India, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 413 on Tuesday morning, significantly impairing visibility and affecting residents. The toxic smog has engulfed the National Capital Region (NCR), with multiple areas recording severe AQI levels. The situation has prompted the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to invoke all actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR.

Delhi's air quality has been deteriorating for days, with the situation taking a turn for the worse on Monday. The Delhi Government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has taken decisive steps to curb rising pollution levels. A high-level review meeting was held at the Delhi Secretariat to assess pollution control measures and take effective decisions. Key decisions include strict enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms without any waiver of challans, exploring pooled and shared electric bus services in Delhi-NCR, and issuing new guidelines for e-rickshaws. Environment Minister Shri Manjinder Singh Sirsa and senior officials from various departments were present at the meeting.

• December 22, 2025: Delhi's air quality dips to 'severe' category, with multiple areas recording AQI above 400.

• December 22, 2025: Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) are affected due to low visibility.

• December 22, 2025: Train services in the region are disrupted, causing inconvenience to passengers.

• December 22, 2025: The Delhi Government invokes GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR to curb extreme air pollution.

• December 23, 2025: AQI soars to 413 in Delhi, with multiple areas recording severe AQI levels.

The hazardous air quality situation in Delhi has a significant humanitarian impact, with residents experiencing severe respiratory issues. The situation has also affected flight operations, with multiple passenger advisories issued by airport authorities. Train services in the region have been disrupted, causing inconvenience to passengers. The Delhi Government has taken decisive steps to curb rising pollution levels, including invoking GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR. The situation has also triggered international attention, with the US embassy and consulates in India announcing their closure between December 24-26.

The situation in Delhi is expected to continue for the next few days, with the AQI remaining in the severe category. The Delhi Government has announced plans to deploy truck-mounted water sprinklers to curb extreme air pollution. The situation has also prompted the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to invoke all actions under GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR. Upcoming dates to watch include December 25, when the Navi Mumbai Airport is set to commence operations, and December 26, when the US embassy and consulates in India are scheduled to reopen.

The situation in Delhi highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address air pollution. While the Delhi Government has taken decisive steps to curb rising pollution levels, the situation underscores the complexity of the issue. Crucially, this overlooks the broader historical trend of urbanization and industrialization, which has led to the degradation of air quality in many cities worldwide. This suggests that a more comprehensive approach is required, one that involves international cooperation, technological innovation, and a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

Overall, the medium-term sentiment around this story is Bearish.

1. AQI soars to 413 in Delhi, toxic smog affects people and visibility — https://theprint.in/environment/aqi-soars-to-413-in-delhi-toxic-smog-affects-people-and-visibility/2811193/

2. Delhi-NCR AQI: Thick smog engulfs National Capital as air quality deteriorates to 'severe' category; Flight operations affected — https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-delhi-ncr-aqi-thick-smog-engulfs-national-capital-as-air-quality-deteriorates-to-severe-category-flight-operations-affected-3194656

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.