New Delhi is once again gasping for breath as toxic smog blankets the city, pushing air quality to alarming levels. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 372 on Monday morning, classified as severe, posing major health risks to residents.
Neighbouring regions also reported dangerous levels: Gurugram (328), Greater Noida (325), Ghaziabad (318), Faridabad (312), and Noida (310). Experts warn that prolonged exposure can cause severe respiratory and cardiac complications.
Low wind speeds, dipping temperatures, and ongoing stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana have worsened the situation, trapping pollutants close to the ground. Despite measures like construction bans, anti-smog guns, and vehicle curbs, Delhi&rsquo;s air remains toxic.
Amid this crisis, hundreds of citizens wearing gas masks and carrying children gathered at India Gate on Sunday evening, demanding clean air. The protest, held without prior permission, saw heavy police deployment and the detention of nearly 80 demonstrators, including environmental activists and parents.
Videos circulating online showed police detaining citizens, prompting outrage across social media. A viral clip captured a protester questioning police for detaining a child, which sparked widespread criticism.
Environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari, who joined the protest, said parents were demanding accountability, noting that schools were holding sports events and marathons despite hazardous air while key pollution control measures were not fully enforced.
The detentions drew condemnation from across the political spectrum. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the government for criminalising peaceful dissent and called clean air a fundamental human right. He accused the ruling party of neglecting citizens&rsquo; health and demanded urgent action.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa defended the current government, attributing the crisis to years of mismanagement by the previous administration. He stated that steps such as introducing e-buses, installing anti-smog guns, and dust mitigation systems were being implemented, but the damage caused over the past decade could not be fixed immediately.
AAP&rsquo;s Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj responded by accusing the government of manipulating air quality data and creating a trust deficit among citizens.
With the AQI hovering between poor and severe levels for weeks, residents say they have lost patience. Many demand stronger and more consistent policy measures, arguing that short-term fixes like water sprinkling or cloud seeding will not solve Delhi&rsquo;s worsening air crisis.
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Toxic smog grips Delhi as citizens protest; political blame game intensifies

Delhi Chokes: Smog, Protests and Politics

Toxic smog grips Delhi as citizens protest; political blame game intensifies

November 10, 2025 | 10:15 IST