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Delhi: Protesters demanding clean air detained as Capital chokes in toxic smog

Since Deepawali, Delhi's air quality has consistently remained in the poor or very poor category, occasionally slipping into the severe zone.

South First Desk

Published Nov 10, 2025 | 1:21 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 10, 2025 | 1:21 PM

JNU students protesting in Delhi were detained by the cops. Credit: x.com/SfiDelhi

JNU students protesting in Delhi were detained by the cops. Credit: x.com/SfiDelhi

Synopsis: Delhi’s air quality plunged to severe levels on 9 November 2025, with AQI hitting 391. Several residents who protested at the India Gate, demanding urgent action were detained due to lack of permission. PM2.5 dominated pollution, while transport contributed 20 percent, and stubble burning five percent. NCR cities are also reeling under ‘very poor’ category air. Forecast predicts persistent hazardous air.

Residents of Delhi assembled at India Gate on Sunday, 9 November, to demonstrate against the city’s air pollution emergency, calling for firm governmental intervention and practical steps to tackle the problem.

Several demonstrators were reportedly taken into custody, as India Gate is not an authorised location for protests.

“There was no permission to hold a protest at India Gate. To maintain law and order and ensure there is no disruption to security arrangements, some individuals were detained,” a police officer stated.

The air quality in Delhi reached the season’s poorest level on Sunday morning, with the AQI rising to 391 before easing slightly, reported The New Indian Express.

“We wish to meet our elected representatives. We had requested an appointment with the chief minister but were denied. So many parents are present because their children are suffering,” environmentalist Bhavreen Khandari said.

At 4 pm on Sunday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was 370, placing the city in the red zone, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

“Ordinary people are dying, yet the government is neither developing any policies nor publishing the data. They are sprinkling water at data centres. Even the cloud seeding failed — and that, in any case, is not a solution. We want a permanent solution,” a resident said.

Most monitoring stations in Delhi recorded pollution levels in the severe category, with Punjabi Bagh registering the highest at 425, followed by Bawana at 410, Jahangirpuri at 401 and Nehru Nagar and Wazirpur at 400, according to data from the CPCB’s Sameer app.

The app compiles readings from 38 monitoring stations across the national capital.

Also Read: How air pollution triggers one in three strokes in India

Noida worst-hit in NCR

In the NCR, Noida recorded the highest AQI of 354, followed by Ghaziabad at 345 and Greater Noida at 340, all falling in the very poor category, the data further showed.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 to 100 “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 “moderate”, 201 to 300 “poor”, 301 to 400 “very poor” and 401 to 500 “severe”, according to CPCB.

On Sunday, PM2.5 remained the primary pollutant in the city.

According to the Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality forecasting, stubble burning contributed around five per cent to Delhi’s pollution, while the transport sector emerged as the largest contributor at 20 percent on Sunday.

Satellite data revealed 238 stubble-burning incidents in Punjab, 42 in Haryana, and 158 in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for the city has forecast that Delhi’s air quality will remain in the ‘very poor’ category over the next few days.

Since Deepawali, the Capital’s air quality has consistently remained in the poor or very poor category, occasionally slipping into the severe zone.

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