Delhi’s air is back to being a “pea soup” of toxins. As of Saturday morning, December 27, 2025, the national capital is officially choking again. The brief relief we had on Thursday—where the AQI actually dropped into the ‘poor’ zone (234)—is long gone.
The thing is, the weather just isn’t cooperating. Or nothing. Let’s be real, the moment the wind dies down, the pollutants just sit there like a heavy blanket. Those too. The overall AQI hit 355 by 9:00 AM today, which is firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, but some neighborhoods are actually breathing ‘severe’ air.
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The Neighborhood Watch
If you’re in the east or north, it’s much worse than the city average.
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Severe (401-450): Anand Vihar and Akshardham are currently sitting at 410. Vivek Vihar is even higher at 424.
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Very Poor (301-400): ITO is at 379, while Ashok Vihar is hitting 392.
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Poor (201-300): Dhaula Kuan is one of the “cleaner” spots at 252.
The GRAP Situation
And here’s the kicker: authorities just revoked GRAP Stage-IV (the most extreme curbs) on Wednesday because the air looked like it was clearing up. Now, just 48 hours later, we’re back in the danger zone.
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Currently in Force: GRAP Stage-III measures are still active.
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What that means: A total ban on non-essential construction and demolition. Also, keep an eye on your fuel—the “No PUC, No Fuel”
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rule is being strictly enforced at petrol pumps today.
The Weather Trap
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for tomorrow, Sunday. We’re looking at:
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Humidity at 100%: This basically glues the dust and smoke to the moisture in the air.
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Temperature: A minimum of 7.8°C and a maximum of 22°C.
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Visibility: Dropped to 400m at Safdarjung this morning. It’s an ongoing situation where the “western disturbance” is moving in, which usually means calm winds—exactly what we don’t want right now.
If you’re planning to head out for a Saturday run or a walk at India Gate, maybe don’t. The 24-hour average is trending upward, and with the dense fog expected to persist, the smog isn’t going anywhere fast.
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