Delhi’s Annual Air Crisis: Why the Capital Still Struggles to Breathe

Each winter, Delhi is engulfed in a suffocating haze as air quality plunges to alarming levels. This year, the toxic smog returned soon after Diwali, driven by a familiar mix of factors—fireworks, vehicle emissions, and large-scale stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Though officials claim a decline in farm fires due to crop losses from floods, recent data show a sharp rise in such incidents. Firecrackers, despite court restrictions, added heavily to pollution as “green crackers” proved only marginally cleaner. With cold air trapping pollutants near the ground, Delhiites face burning eyes, coughing, and respiratory distress once again. Despite repeated campaigns and promises of cleaner practices, affordability issues and lax enforcement keep the city locked in its recurring battle with toxic air.

27-10-2025