Delhi's air quality has once again entered the 'severe' category, marking a significant deterioration in the city's environmental health. Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) confirmed that the capital's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 400 on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Citywide Pollution Hotspots Emerge
The situation is particularly dire in specific localities. According to readings from the CPCB's Sameer application, the Wazirpur area logged the city's most alarming air quality with an AQI of 477, firmly placing it in the 'severe' category. This was not an isolated case, as major pollution hotspots across the city reported similarly hazardous levels.
Areas including Anand Vihar (427), RK Puram (424), Punjabi Bagh (441), Mundka (441), Jahangirpuri (453), Burari Crossing (410), and Bawana (443) were among 21 locations that reported 'severe' air quality levels. In a slight contrast, Lodhi Road recorded the lowest AQI reading among the 39 monitoring stations at 269, which is still categorised as 'poor'.
A Worsening Trend and Grim Forecast
The descent into the 'severe' zone follows a worrying trend. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 392 on Wednesday, which was in the 'very poor' category. This was a step down from Tuesday's 374, Monday's 351, and readings of 377, 386, and 387 on the preceding days. This is not the first time this month that the capital has faced such a crisis; Delhi last slipped into the 'severe' zone between November 11 and 13.
The forecast offers little respite. The Ministry of Earth Sciences' Air Quality Early Warning System has indicated that Delhi's air quality is likely to deteriorate further in the coming days, and is expected to remain in the 'very poor' to 'severe' range for the next six days.
Understanding the AQI and Weather Conditions
As per CPCB standards, an AQI between 0–50 is considered 'good', 51–100 'satisfactory', 101–200 'moderate', 201–300 'poor', 301–400 'very poor', and 401–500 'severe'. The current readings place a significant portion of the city in the most dangerous bracket for public health.
Compounding the problem, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate fog, with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 27 and 11 degrees Celsius, respectively. Such meteorological conditions often trap pollutants close to the ground, preventing their dispersal and leading to prolonged periods of poor air quality.
