Former IPS officer and former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi made an emotional appeal to the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday, describing the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR as "agonising and depressing" and requesting immediate intervention.
Hazy Skies and Soaring Pollution Levels
Delhi residents woke up to severely reduced visibility as thick smog enveloped the city on November 27, 2025. Pollution levels reached alarming heights, with private air quality tracker AQI.in recording a staggering AQI of 548, while the government's Air Quality Early Warning System reported a slightly lower but still hazardous reading of 349.
The situation prompted Bedi to take direct action, sharing her personal experience living in Indirapuram where the AQI had climbed to an even more dangerous 587. In her social media post addressed to the PMO, she revealed concrete steps she had taken to protect her family from the toxic air.
Personal Measures and Public Appeal
"I have not sent my child to school despite teachers' messages. I have written a firm mail to the principal. Whatever is in my area of control I will do that," Bedi stated emphatically in her post that quickly went viral.
Her direct appeal to the Prime Minister's Office contained a simple but urgent request: "Sir please intervene proactively." The former police officer's message resonated with thousands of Delhi-NCR residents experiencing similar health concerns and frustration with the persistent air quality crisis.
Mixed Response and Policy Changes
Social media users responded with both support and skepticism to Bedi's intervention. One user commented, "With due respect, the ship for being called 'proactive' sailed probably a month back. Now it's about at least acknowledging and reacting if not responding and take action."
Another suggested practical solutions: "Nationwide WFH continuation/reestablishment itself will help alleviate this," while a third user warned, "What's required now is an emergency response, otherwise there'll be a civic rebellion."
Meanwhile, in a contrasting development, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decided to revoke Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the National Capital Region with immediate effect. The sub-committee justified this decision by noting that air quality had shown improvement over the past three days and forecasts from IMD and IITM predicted the AQI would remain in the 'Very Poor' category in coming days.
The panel cited the "disruptive nature of restrictions under Stage-III" and the downward trend in pollution levels as reasons for withdrawing the curb, even as residents continued to struggle with visibly poor air quality and health concerns.
