Delhi's India Gate Obscured by Heavy Smog Amid Rising Air Pollution
Delhi's iconic India Gate was barely visible behind a thick layer of smog as the city's air quality deteriorated sharply, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching hazardous levels. Videos and images of the obscured landmark went viral on social media, sparking public concern over the severity of pollution, which appears worse than official AQI readings suggest. Experts warn that with light winds and high humidity, conditions are unlikely to improve soon.
Delhi's air quality has plummeted to dangerous levels, blanketing the city in a dense layer of smog that has reduced visibility dramatically, particularly around the India Gate monument. On Saturday, the AQI at India Gate was officially recorded at 295, in the 'poor' category, but the thick haze made the landmark almost invisible, prompting questions online about whether the official pollution figures reflect the true severity of conditions. By Sunday, citywide AQI spiked to over 400 in some areas, entering the 'severe' zone, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels far exceeding safe limits. Meteorological factors—including very high humidity and low wind speeds—have prevented the dispersion of pollutants, trapping them close to the ground. The situation has been exacerbated by seasonal factors such as stubble burning in neighboring states, peak festival traffic, and unfavorable weather, marking the first weeks of November as typically the most polluted period of the year for Delhi. Health advisories urge vulnerable populations to take precautions, while social media has been flooded with images and videos of India Gate disappearing into the smog, highlighting the public's growing alarm at the environmental crisis. Authorities predict that without significant rain or strong winds, air quality will remain in the 'very poor' to 'severe' range for several more days[1][2][3].
