A student-led demonstration at India Gate escalated after protesters allegedly used chilli spray during a police clearance drive, reflecting rising public anger over worsening air
BY PC Bureau
November 24, 2025: Delhi’s air quality remained perilously close to the ‘Severe’ category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 397 — barely a point shy of the red zone. The reading showed virtually no improvement from Sunday, signalling a prolonged phase of hazardous air that has become depressingly familiar for residents at the onset of winter.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 20 of the 39 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded air quality in the ‘Severe’ range, underscoring how widespread the pollution crisis has become. The capital continues to battle a toxic mix of farm stubble burning in neighbouring states, vehicular emissions, dust pollution, and stagnant atmospheric conditions that trap pollutants close to the surface.
Capital’s Hotspots Choke Under Thick Smog
The worst-hit localities saw AQI numbers soaring well above 400 by early morning. At 7 am, Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 455, while Rohini topped the list with 458. Other chronically polluted pockets — Delhi Technological University (444), Anand Vihar (442), Bawana (439), Ashok Vihar (436), Burari (433), Alipur (412), ITO (409) and Dwarka (401) — also remained firmly in the ‘Severe’ zone.
These readings indicate high concentrations of PM2.5, the fine particulate matter linked to respiratory and cardiac illnesses.
Doctors warn that prolonged exposure at these levels can trigger asthma attacks, eye irritation, reduced lung function, and even long-term damage to critical organs. Vulnerable groups — including children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing conditions — are especially at risk.
NCR No Relief: Noida, Ghaziabad Slip Deeper Into Hazardous Zone
Across Delhi’s borders, air quality in Noida worsened significantly, hitting an AQI of 413, categorised as ‘Severe’. Even areas on the fringe of the category were struggling: Noida’s average AQI across stations hovered around 396.
Greater Noida reported 399, technically ‘Very Poor’, but on the cusp of severe.
Ghaziabad, long notorious for some of the worst air quality readings in the country, once again slipped deep into the danger zone with an AQI of 432. Residents across these suburbs complained of throat irritation, breathlessness, and reduced visibility through the day.
In contrast, Gurugram (291) and Faridabad (239) reported slightly better — though still unhealthy — air quality, falling in the ‘Poor’ category. Experts attribute this marginal improvement to better wind flow and fewer local pollution sources compared to Delhi’s dense central districts.
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🚨 SHOCKER FROM DELHI 🚨
The capital is choking again. AQI has hit a hazardous 328, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels several times above safe limits. The air is literally toxic.Mist mixed with pollution has turned the city into a gas chamber and now, citizens are stepping out to… pic.twitter.com/SJhHa1hvPO
— Indian Law and Justice (@legalworld0) November 23, 2025
Protest at India Gate Turns Tense
Even as the city struggled beneath a toxic haze, public anger spilled into the streets. A group of young climate activists gathered at India Gate, demanding immediate and long-term action from authorities. The protest, organised by the Delhi Coordination Committee for Clean Air, began peacefully but soon escalated when participants allegedly refused to follow police instructions to disperse from the restricted zone.
According to police sources, a few protesters used chilli spray during the scuffle, leading to brief chaos as officers attempted to clear the area. Several participants were detained for violating Section 144 orders, which restrict public gatherings around central Delhi.
The Committee accused the government of “willful neglect” and said that the worsening pollution levels represent a “serious risk to public health”. In a statement, the organisers criticised what they called “cosmetic measures” — including water sprinkling on roads, cloud seeding experiments, and last-minute spraying around AQI stations — arguing that these do nothing to address structural issues such as unchecked construction dust, coal-based industrial activity, and dependence on fossil fuels.
Authorities on the Defensive
Government officials, meanwhile, maintained that emergency response systems were active. Anti-smog guns, mechanised road sweepers, and enforcement drives against open burning are reportedly in full operation. However, environmentalists argue that these steps are insufficient and often implemented inconsistently.
Weather scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warn that relief may not arrive soon. Light winds and falling temperatures are likely to keep pollutants trapped close to the ground over the next few days — a pattern expected to persist until a western disturbance clears the atmosphere.
Residents Brace for a Long Smog Season
For Delhi’s nearly 3 crore residents, Monday’s readings offered little hope. Schools in several districts have already shifted to hybrid or online modes. Hospitals have reported a rising influx of patients complaining of breathlessness, dry cough, and wheezing.
With no immediate meteorological relief on the horizon, experts predict that air quality may dip further into the severe range unless drastic interventions are undertaken.
As winter deepens, Delhi-NCR continues to confront its grim annual reality: a landscape where inhaling clean air remains a privilege, and where the battle between public health and political inertia grows sharper by the day.
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