In a concerning trend, Delhi woke up to a thick haze on Sunday morning, accompanied by 'very poor' air quality that has lingered for the past nine days in the National Capital Region (NCR). The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 389, firmly placing Delhi in the 'very poor' category.

PM 10 levels soared to 393, and PM 2.5 levels reached 236, both significantly surpassing safe limits. The Central Pollution Control Board underscored the severity, assigning an AQI of 385 out of 500 for Delhi, reflecting widespread 'very poor' to 'severe' air quality across the city.

On a granular level, various locations in Delhi witnessed alarming AQI levels. Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, Punjabi Bagh, Mundka, Ashok Vihar, Sonia Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Rohini, Burari Crossing, and Mandir Marg recorded 'severe' air quality with AQIs ranging from 401 to 456.

In the surrounding areas, Noida reported an AQI of 344, Greater Noida at 325, Ghaziabad at 338, and Faridabad at 378, further emphasizing the pervasive nature of the pollution crisis.

Cold north-westerly winds in the past two days created a favorable atmosphere for smog, causing a dip in temperature. Scientist Kuldeep Srivastava noted that the wind direction is expected to become variable, and Western disturbances on November 27 may bring showers, leading to a further temperature drop.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai addressed the issue, stating that pollution levels, though increased in recent days, are predicted to improve. He mentioned a forecasted increase in wind speed and the possibility of light rainfall, offering a glimmer of hope amid the challenging air quality scenario.

November has seen a notable increase in severe air quality days, with 10 recorded so far, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address Delhi's persistent air pollution crisis.