By Allycaral Desk
Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog on November 6, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to 311, placing it in the “very poor” category. In some residential pockets, personal monitors recorded PM2.5 levels above 600 — far exceeding WHO’s safe limits.
Hospitals across the city, including AIIMS and Safdarjung, have reported a nearly 60% rise in cases of respiratory distress, asthma, bronchitis, and eye irritation. Pediatric wards and maternity units are particularly overwhelmed as children and pregnant women face the worst of the toxic air.
Health experts have warned that prolonged exposure to such pollution levels can cause irreversible lung damage and cardiovascular risks. “The air quality is equivalent to smoking multiple cigarettes a day,” said Dr. R.K. Sharma, a pulmonologist at AIIMS.
Environmentalists blame multiple factors, including stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution. Satellite data from SAFAR India shows over 1,800 active fire spots in northern states contributing to Delhi’s haze.
Amid the crisis, political parties — Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — have accused each other of data manipulation and failure to implement pollution control measures.
While Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has called for “cooperative federal solutions,” BJP leaders have slammed the government’s “ineffective” odd-even scheme and delayed action plans.
In response, citizen groups and climate activists have announced a protest at India Gate on November 9, demanding stricter enforcement of emission norms and emergency public health interventions.
Despite air purifiers and “clean zones,” experts stress that systemic reform — not temporary measures — is the need of the hour.
“Delhi’s fight for clean air must go beyond politics. It’s about survival,” said environmental researcher Meera Menon.
As the national capital struggles to breathe, one thing is clear — the crisis is both an environmental and human emergency.
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