Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index of 349 on Wednesday, slipping back into the “very poor” category barely a day after GRAP-III pollution-control measures were lifted. Residents woke up to a dense layer of haze across the city, with visibility dropping and the familiar smell of smoke returning to morning air. According to monitoring stations, several localities such as Wazirpur, Bawana, Jahangirpuri and Anand Vihar breached the “severe” threshold, highlighting how quickly pollution levels rebound as winter intensifies.

Experts note that stagnant wind flow, falling temperatures and stubble smoke drifting from neighbouring states continue to trap pollutants close to the surface. While GRAP-III withdrawal had briefly allowed construction activity, ease of vehicular restrictions and industrial operations to resume, the sudden deterioration has prompted authorities to intensify GRAP-I and II actions, including stricter road-dust control, waste burning surveillance and encouraging work-from-home advisories for high-pollution pockets. Officials said a fresh review is underway to decide whether tougher steps must return in the coming days.

Doctors have reiterated warnings to vulnerable groups including children, senior citizens and patients with respiratory or heart conditions. Hospitals across the capital have reported an uptick in cases of breathlessness, coughing, asthma flare-ups and burning eyes. Schools have advised parents to limit outdoor exposure for children, while many residential communities have distributed N95 masks and switched to indoor air purifiers.

Despite years of policy interventions, Delhi continues to see severe winter pollution due to vehicle emissions, industrial output, biomass burning and unfavourable weather. Environmental researchers stress that temporary curbs cannot produce long-term relief unless year-round emission control and regional coordination are strengthened. As the city waits for a shift in weather patterns, residents once again brace for another difficult phase of toxic winter air.