Delhi choked by thick smog as AQI touches 333, air quality remains in ‘very poor’ category

Delhi woke up to a heavy layer of smog on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 333 at 7 am—firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Despite a marginal improvement compared to the preceding weeks, large parts of the capital remained blanketed in dense haze, severely affecting visibility during early morning hours.

Several monitoring stations continued to reflect alarming pollution levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 366, Wazirpur 359, Sonia Vihar 352, and Ghazipur Mandi 366.

Bawana reported the day’s highest reading at 375, also classified as ‘very poor’. Only a few pockets, such as NSIT Dwarka—with an AQI of 250—fell in the relatively better ‘poor’ category. Iconic landmarks including India Gate and Kartavya Path were engulfed in smog, where the AQI stood at 311.

According to the national AQI scale, readings between 301 and 400 fall into the ‘very poor’ range, increasing the risk of respiratory illness, especially among vulnerable groups.

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Amid growing public concern, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responded to a related query in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. MP Dr. Laxmikant Bajpayee had sought clarification on reports suggesting that one in every seven deaths in Delhi could be linked to toxic air.

Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh noted that several studies have examined pollution-related mortality but added that in 2025, Delhi had not recorded a single day in the ‘severe plus’ category.

The government said it continues to enforce measures to combat pollution across Delhi-NCR under the supervision of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).