Delhi Blames AAP as Smog Deepens and AQI Data Vanishes
Delhi Blames AAP as Smog Deepens and AQI Data Vanishes
Delhi's air crisis deepens as AQI data vanishes from the official app while a minister singles out the opposition, fueling a tense pollution showdown.
Delhi's air quality is once again in the very poor category as thick smog blankets the city. The latest reading stood at 345 before CPCB stopped issuing AQI data on its app and website after 12:15 pm due to a technical glitch, with officials saying the system should be restored soon. Residents faced blank screens while trying to check air quality in busy corridors like Anand Vihar.
Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa blamed the Aam Aadmi Party for the pollution, arguing that their 10-year period left the city with filth and that the current protests over air quality were politically motivated. He stressed that the government is working to safeguard children from pollution-related illness inherited over the years.
He also noted that protesters at India Gate were told there are Supreme Court guidelines against gathering there, so they could move to Jantar Mantar. He repeated the charge that the AAP is protesting with blame while the city still bears the burden of pollution accumulated over a decade, using a proverb to point to hypocrisy.
On the data outage, authorities said this was a technical glitch and promised restoration; the last update indicated the system would be back by 6 pm. In the meantime, residents, parents, and commuters are left navigating uncertain air quality readings, complicating decisions about outdoor activities, school timings, and travel.
The situation underscores a tense atmosphere as political blame continues even as Delhi confronts deteriorating air quality and seeks more transparent monitoring and decisive pollution-control measures.
Cover image source: Watch: People in Delhi fret over health issues in ‘Very Poor’ AQI 🔗
