It’s Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and if you’re waking up in Delhi, you’re probably squinting through that familiar grey haze. Or nothing. The thing is, while the government is calling it a “marginal improvement,” let’s be real—breathing is still a workout. The AQI hit 339 at 9:00 AM today, which technically keeps us in the “very poor” bracket, but it’s a far cry from the “severe” levels we saw earlier this week.
The big news from yesterday was the CAQM actually lifting the GRAP-IV restrictions. Those too. No more ban on BS-IV diesel trucks, and the hybrid school models for seniors are being rolled back. But here’s the kicker—it’s not because the air is “clean.” It’s just not “emergency-bad” anymore.
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The Delhi Smog Report: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the city is trapped between stagnant air and a rising thermometer. Here’s the ground reality:
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The Hotspots: Jahangirpuri is currently the worst place for your lungs with an AQI of 390. Areas like Anand Vihar and Wazirpur aren’t far behind, sitting comfortably in the high 380s. The thing is, the “better” areas are still only hitting the “poor” category. Or nothing.
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The Temperature Paradox: We’re seeing a weird winter. The minimum temperature hit 7.2°C at Safdarjung this morning, which is chilly, but the maximum is expected to climb to 24°C. Let’s be real—the unusual warmth is actually trapping the pollutants closer to the ground.
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The Fog Factor: Moderate fog is sticking around, and while visibility is okay-ish at 10km in some spots, the mist during the night is keeping the PM2.5 levels high. The thing is, we’re waiting on a Western Disturbance.
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Rain on the Horizon? And here’s the kicker—the IMD is predicting a “wet spell” starting late tonight. We might see actual rain by Friday, January 23, which could finally wash this muck out of the sky. Those too.
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Delhi AQI & Weather Tracker
| Station | AQI (9 AM) | Condition |
| Jahangirpuri | 390 | Very Poor |
| Anand Vihar | 388 | Very Poor |
| Safdarjung | 339 | Very Poor (City Avg) |
| Lodhi Road | 312 | Very Poor |
| Forecast | Expected Rain | Friday (Jan 23) |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The thing is, even though they lifted the Stage-IV curbs, Stages I, II, and III are still very much in play. Or nothing. That means the ban on construction (mostly) and the use of coal/firewood in eateries is still on. Let’s be real—until that rain hits on Friday, the “slight improvement” isn’t going to make much of a difference for anyone with asthma or a morning commute.
One side comment—Delhi just survived its worst January air quality spell in five years. The thing is, we had three straight days of “severe” (400+) pollution earlier this week. So, 339 feels like a win, but it’s still an ongoing situation where the air is a literal health hazard. Those too.
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