Climate & Environment
Delhi Air Quality Hits ‘Very Poor’ Level as Punjab and Haryana Farm Fires Drive Pollution Surge
By Livemint
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed from 117 on Saturday to 261 on Sunday and reached 324 by Monday afternoon, crossing the 300‑mark threshold for “very poor” air for the first time this season, according to a study by HT. The sharp rise was attributed mainly to smoke from evening crop fires in Punjab and Haryana. Winds from the northwest carried the smoke into the capital, bringing particulate matter from the burning fields. While stagnant weather conditions contributed, the analysis showed that meteorological factors alone could not explain the sudden deterioration.
The study noted that more than 90 % of large fires in Punjab during 2024 and 2025 were lit after 3 PM, a sharp increase from 3 % in 2021. INSAT‑3DS satellite data revealed evening fire counts rising from 17 on October 29 to 90 on November 1, indicating that the actual number of burning fields is likely higher.
On the night of November 1 (10 PM to 6 AM Monday), PM2.5 averaged 194 µg/m³—over three times India’s safe limit of 60 µg/m³—compared with 68 µg/m³ and 127 µg/m³ on the nights of October 18 and 28, respectively. Fine particles, characteristic of smoke, made up nearly 60 % of the total particulate matter on November 1, versus about 40 % on the October nights.
The Commission for Air Quality Management activated Stage‑II of the GRAP for the National Capital Region, which applies when AQI is between 301 and 400. Measures included increased road sweeping, water sprinkling, dust‑control inspections, and steps to discourage private vehicle use. Health advisories urged people with respiratory problems to stay indoors during heavy pollution periods, especially early morning and night, and to wear masks.
HT’s analysis also highlighted that overnight pollution typically dissipates by mid‑afternoon as the sun warms the ground. However, on November 1, PM2.5 levels did not fall at all; instead, they nearly doubled in three hours around midday, indicating a fresh influx of dirty air from outside the capital.
The study traced the air’s three‑day trajectory and found that the air arriving on November 1 had spent most of its time over Punjab and Haryana, passing over dozens of fires, whereas on October 28 the wind arrived from the south and east, avoiding the fire belt.
The findings underscore the impact of late‑day crop burning on Delhi’s air quality and the need for coordinated measures to curb smoke emissions from neighboring states.