In photos: Delhi struggles to breathe as air pollution hits year’s worst levels
Ten air monitoring stations in the NCR recorded air quality in the ‘severe plus emergency’ category on Sunday.

A thick haze caused by plumes of toxic smoke enveloped Delhi and its surrounding areas on Sunday. According to government-run monitoring agency System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, or SAFAR, the air quality index in the national Capital was 625 and in the “severe” category at 12 pm.
SAFAR measures Delhi’s air quality based on index values recorded at up to nine stations spread across the city and one each in Noida and Gurugram. Ten of these stations recorded air quality in the “severe plus emergency” category on Sunday. Gurugram was the most polluted with an AQI of 737.
An AQI between 0-50 is considered “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor” and 401-500 “severe”. An index above 500 falls in the “severe-plus emergency” category. Anything above 400 poses a risk for people with respiratory illnesses and can also affect even those with healthy lungs.
Authorities on Friday had declared a public health emergency and closed schools and all construction activity until next week as pollution in the city hit its worst level this year.
Also read: Centre, Arvind Kejriwal continue blame game as Delhi smog thickens on Sunday
Here are pictures of the pollution:









#DelhiAirEmergency was trending on Twitter as many users put up photos of the toxic smog in and around the Capital.
It’s 11:15 and my air purifier in closed room hasn’t turned green yet! #DelhiAirEmergency https://t.co/11jLvPUMdV
— Abhinav Prakash (@Abhina_Prakash) November 3, 2019
I am so grateful to nature
— Arjun (@RationalArjun) November 3, 2019
Finally I got a chance to play in a gas chamber #DelhiAirEmergency pic.twitter.com/JizWN2e6Nq
Lovely day to fly. #DelhiAirEmergency pic.twitter.com/Y5uf3YktOe
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) November 3, 2019
Choking under a thick cover of smog and pollution...#DelhiAirEmergency #DelhiPollution #DelhiBachao pic.twitter.com/ZpFdAQCKLf
— Biraj Lahkar (@birajlahkar) November 3, 2019
1. This morning 2. Last month #DelhiAirEmergency pic.twitter.com/PbQdBCKhCy
— Debanish Achom (@journeybasket) November 3, 2019
The situation is grave.
— Akshat Ayush (@AkshattAyush) November 3, 2019
AQI is skyrocketing.
Who's Responsible ?#DelhiBachao #DelhiPollution #DelhiAirEmergency #AirPollution @dmgbnagar @dm_ghaziabad @ArvindKejriwal @myogiadityanath @capt_amarinder @UN @PMOIndia @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/aSZLLvcspa
Everyone lauded series #Chernobyl;if things continue the way they are,soon a series on #DelhiPollution will be coming out where we will watch on TV box how our generation got swallowed by this toxic air while the victims remained helpless & the system shameless #DelhiAirEmergency pic.twitter.com/KwwKNpyESK
— Abhimanyu Prasad (@Abhimanyuabhi94) November 3, 2019
Yup the Apocalypse is here. #DelhiAirEmergency pic.twitter.com/LcsAZGYtkL
— Akshay Bhalla (@Bhallanator) November 3, 2019
This is not acceptable, how are we supposed to live in Noida? @narendramodi @UPGovt#DelhiAirQuality #DelhiAirEmergency pic.twitter.com/rnkv45uw2l
— sourabh malhotra (@sorabh_malhotra) November 3, 2019
Some Twitter users pointed out the irony of the prime minister saying in Thailand today that it was “the best time to be in India”.
#DelhiAirEmergency #DelhiBachao
— Desi Bhai Einstein 🇮🇳 (@DesiPoliticks) November 3, 2019
Kids smoke Cigarettes
Adults smoke Cigars
Legends smoke air in Delhi-NCR
Ultra Legends 👇👇👇 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/QHcnd3ewSl