Delhi

Delhi’s Air Still Unsafe: Slight Dip in Pollution Levels Offers Little Comfort

Delhi’s Air Still Unsafe: Slight Dip in Pollution Levels Offers Little Comfort

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The national capital witnessed a marginal improvement in air quality on Saturday morning, but pollution levels remained in the ‘poor’ bracket, keeping Delhi-NCR residents under the lingering blanket of smog. As per the Early Warning System for Delhi, the city’s average AQI stood at 257 around 5:30 a.m. — a minor improvement from 293 on Friday. Although the air showed signs of recovery over the past 24 hours, experts warn that the relief is temporary, with stagnant weather conditions and emissions from vehicles continuing to choke the city. The haze that blanketed Delhi reduced visibility across…
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Delhi Set to Witness First Artificial Rainfall on October 29 to Tackle Pollution

Delhi Set to Witness First Artificial Rainfall on October 29 to Tackle Pollution

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): In a landmark environmental experiment, Delhi is expected to experience its first-ever bout of artificial rain on October 29, an initiative aimed at combating the city’s worsening air pollution in the aftermath of Diwali. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the development, stating that preparations are in full swing following a successful trial run over Burari, where scientists dispersed silver iodide and sodium chloride into existing clouds to test the technology. The ambitious project is the result of a collaboration between the Delhi government, IIT Kanpur, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the Indian Institute of Tropical…
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Thick Haze Lingers Over Delhi as Air Quality Remains ‘Very Poor’

Thick Haze Lingers Over Delhi as Air Quality Remains ‘Very Poor’

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A blanket of haze hovered over the capital on Wednesday morning as Delhi continued to grapple with worsening air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) clocking in at 335—firmly placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI reading was recorded at 9 a.m., reflecting elevated levels of fine particulate matter in the air, which pose a significant threat to respiratory health. The grim air quality persists despite a forecast of clear skies through the day. Morning conditions saw heavy humidity, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD)…
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Delhi’s Air Quality Hits Dangerous Levels After Diwali Fireworks, Most Stations in ‘Red Zone’

Delhi’s Air Quality Hits Dangerous Levels After Diwali Fireworks, Most Stations in ‘Red Zone’

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Diwali festivities in Delhi, traditionally marked by fireworks and celebrations, left the national capital grappling with severe air pollution, as most air quality monitoring stations recorded alarming figures. Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing the use of only green firecrackers between 8 PM and 10 PM, the unregulated burst of firecrackers continued well beyond the designated time, sending the city’s air quality into a hazardous spiral. According to data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), a staggering 36 out of 38 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi registered pollution levels in the 'red zone,' signaling…
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Delhi Sees Spike in Fire Emergency Calls on Diwali Night; Numbers Expected to Climb

Delhi Sees Spike in Fire Emergency Calls on Diwali Night; Numbers Expected to Climb

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Diwali celebrations in the national capital led to a significant surge in fire-related emergencies, with over 170 distress calls made to the Delhi Fire Service by 11:30 PM on Monday. Authorities say the figure is likely to increase as more incidents are reported through the night. Emergency services were kept on their toes as firecrackers, oil lamps, and other festive lighting appeared to trigger multiple fire outbreaks in different parts of the city. Fire department teams were dispatched across several locations, tackling blazes that ranged from minor residential fires to more serious flare-ups. “Every year, we…
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Toxic Smog Returns: Delhi’s Air Turns Hazardous in Pockets as Authorities Enforce Pollution Curbs

Toxic Smog Returns: Delhi’s Air Turns Hazardous in Pockets as Authorities Enforce Pollution Curbs

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Delhi woke up to another grim morning on Monday as pollution levels continued to climb, pushing air quality into dangerous territory in several parts of the capital. The situation prompted officials to roll out stricter anti-pollution protocols under Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) placed the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 333 by morning — well within the ‘very poor’ category. However, localized monitoring stations revealed a much darker picture in some neighborhoods, where pollution spiked into the ‘severe’ bracket. At Anand Vihar,…
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Delhi Starts the Day with Elevated Temperatures and Declining Air Quality

Delhi Starts the Day with Elevated Temperatures and Declining Air Quality

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Residents of the capital woke up to a warmer-than-usual morning on Sunday as the city recorded a minimum temperature of 20.6°C, which is 2.2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Humidity levels stood at 71% around 8:30 a.m., and the day is expected to remain clear, with the mercury likely to climb to a maximum of around 33°C later in the afternoon. While the skies may remain cloud-free, Delhi’s air quality offered little to be optimistic about. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) placed the city's overall…
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Delhi’s Air Quality Dips to ‘Poor’ as Mercury Falls Below Seasonal Norm

Delhi’s Air Quality Dips to ‘Poor’ as Mercury Falls Below Seasonal Norm

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Residents of the national capital experienced a noticeably cooler morning today, but the relief brought by the weather was overshadowed by a persistent decline in air quality. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded a minimum temperature of 18.4°C — a notch below the usual average for this period. The day is expected to warm up to around 33°C, while humidity levels stood at 74% early in the morning, adding a slight heaviness to the otherwise pleasant start. Despite the favorable weather, Delhi’s air pollution levels remained a point of concern. The Central…
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SC Allows Limited Use of Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, Sets Strict Conditions

SC Allows Limited Use of Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, Sets Strict Conditions

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court has made a key relaxation in its earlier stance on firecracker restrictions, granting permission for the use of green firecrackers in Delhi and the surrounding NCR region ahead of Diwali — but only under carefully defined conditions and timeframes. In its order issued this week, the court allowed green crackers to be used during a four-day window from October 18 to October 21. On Diwali day, people will be allowed to burst them only during two time slots — from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM, and again in the evening from 8:00 PM…
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Delhi Airport on Alert After Bomb Threat on IndiGo Flight From Mumbai

Delhi Airport on Alert After Bomb Threat on IndiGo Flight From Mumbai

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A high alert was declared at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday morning after an IndiGo flight from Mumbai received a bomb threat mid-air. The aircraft, operating as flight 6E 762, landed safely with around 200 passengers on board, officials confirmed. The threat was reported while the Airbus A321neo was en route to Delhi. Following standard emergency protocols, a full emergency was declared at the airport before the plane's arrival. The aircraft touched down without incident at approximately 7:53 AM and was directed to a remote bay for inspection. Security agencies and bomb disposal teams…
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