Delhi Chokes Under Thick Smog Blanket
Residents of Delhi-NCR woke up to another day of hazardous air on Saturday, November 15, 2025, as a dense layer of smog continued to engulf the capital region. The air quality remained firmly in the 'severe' category, forcing authorities to maintain strict pollution control measures.
Alarming AQI Readings Recorded
Official monitoring systems painted a grim picture of the environmental crisis. The Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) recorded Delhi's Air Quality Index at 386 at 5:30 AM. Meanwhile, data from private air quality monitor AQI.in indicated an even more concerning level of 470. Health experts have equated breathing this toxic air to the damaging effects of smoking approximately 12 cigarettes a day on human lungs.
The severe pollution dramatically reduced visibility across the city, with iconic buildings and major arterial roads becoming barely visible through the thick haze that shrouded the skyline throughout the morning hours.
GRAP Stage III Restrictions Remain Enforced
In response to the persistently dangerous pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to keep Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) actively implemented across the entire National Capital Region. This decision comes as pollution levels continue to remain alarmingly high, posing significant health risks to millions of residents.
The restrictions under GRAP Stage III include:
- Ban on most construction activities
- Closure of brick kilns and stone crushers
- Restrictions on other high-emission industrial operations
The variation in AQI readings between different monitoring systems is attributed to the different parameters measured and the diverse locations of air quality monitoring stations throughout the city.
