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Year Ender 2025: From Heatwaves, Punjab Floods To Cyclone Ditwah; 5 Major Natural Disasters Which Devastated India

Year Ender 2025: India faced several natural calamities in 2025, ranging from deadly landslides and flash floods to prolonged heatwaves and powerful cyclones. Each disaster left behind a trail of destruction, disrupting lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure across states. Together, these events have once again pushed a crucial question to the forefront: how unchecked urban expansion, rampant deforestation, rising air pollution and inadequate environmental planning are intensifying the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. As the nation protests against the unchecked mining on the Aravalli mountain ranges through the ‘Save Aravali’ campaign, here are some of the major environmental crises that India faced this year: Severe Heatwaves The first signs of climatic distress were evident during the summer months, when temperatures in the plains soared to around 40 degrees Celsius, while hill regions recorded unusually high average temperatures of nearly 30 degrees Celsius. These prolonged heat conditions not only strained public health systems and power supplies but also disrupted agriculture and water availability across large parts of the country. The scale of the crisis is reflected in data from the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth, which show that India experienced extreme weather events on 331 of the 334 days between January and November, an alarming 99 per cent of the period. These events included heatwaves, floods, cyclones, landslides, and intense rainfall episodes. In comparison, India recorded such events on 295 days in 2025, highlighting a sharp escalation in both the frequency and persistence of extreme weather.

Winter air made worse by poison plastic: Open waste burning and its hidden toll on lungs

Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, said that reducing the sources of PM2.5 should be the priority. Containing industrial pollution, vehicular emissions and waste burning should top the government’s to-do list. Coal-fire, smoke-belching vehicles and unregulated industries are the chief contributors to Calcutta’s filthy air. But there’s another factor that is not difficult to mitigate but is rarely addressed: the burning of waste. Environment scientists say the presence of plastic in any solid waste makes burning it a “serious health hazard”. Plastic releases highly toxic and carcinogenic elements when burnt in the open. A study by The Energy and Resources Institute to determine the major contributors to Calcutta’s foul air, conducted between 2022 and 2024, found that “refuse burning” had a 5 per cent share in the generation of PM10 and the deadlier PM2.5. Both PM10 and PM2.5 are tiny particles that we breathe in with the air. Of the two, PM2.5 — particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less — is a greater public health hazard because it can enter the deepest crevices of the human lungs. Every winter, Calcutta’s air quality plummets with a drop in the mercury. At 10am on Saturday, the air quality was “very poor” at Victoria; “poor” in Ballygunge, Bidhannagar, Jadavpur and Rabindra Bharati University (BT Road campus); and “moderate” in Fort William and Rabindra Sarobar. “Moderate” — the best reading on Saturday morning, recorded at just two stations — is two levels below the best air quality. In the National Air Quality Index, prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board, “moderate” is ranked third below “good” and “satisfactory” and comes above “poor” and “very poor”. The sources of pollution do not disappear in summer or monsoon, but climate factors like warmer air and rain disperse or wash away some of the pollutants. In winter, the air is cooler and heavier: it does not rise as fast as warm air. The wind speed, too, is generally lower during winter. All this traps the pollutants in the lower atmosphere. The study to determine the sources of air pollution and their relative contribution to the hazard was commissioned by the state pollution control board. Dirty five Dust, coal and biomass-fired cooking, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution and refuse burning are among the top sources of foul air in Calcutta. The worst among them is dust, its share in generating PM10 the highest at 43 per cent. The use of coal and biomass for cooking at roadside eateries and by some poor households, and the use of coal by ironing kiosks, are the top contributors to the generation of PM2.5, their combined share being 29 per cent. At 21 per cent, industrial pollution comes second in generating PM2.5. Vehicle emissions come a close third at 20 per cent. How they hurt us Both PM10 and PM2.5 harm us, but PM2.5 harms more. “PM2.5 includes both fine and ultra-fine particles that can travel across the lungs. These particles can enter the blood circulation and travel to all the organs,” said Arup Halder, a pulmonologist with the Calcutta Medical Research Institute. Halder said the impact of inhaling PM2.5 depends on both the duration and the intensity of the exposure. “Prolonged exposure definitely has a bad impact. At the same time, intense exposure for a short duration too causes damage,” he said. According to the air quality index (AQI), even “moderate” air quality can trigger breathing discomfort among people with asthma, lung disease and heart ailments. A drop to “poor” air quality can cause “breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure”, while “very poor” air can lead to “respiratory illness” on prolonged exposure. Doctors said that PM10 got deposited mostly in the throat and the large airways. “They cause irritation in the nose and large airways,” Halder said. Air pollution also lowers natural immunity and makes people vulnerable to infections, more than one doctor said. Least we can do Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, said that reducing the sources of PM2.5 should be the priority. Containing industrial pollution, vehicular emissions and waste burning should top the government’s to-do list. “The sources of industrial pollution are mostly local and peripheral. The government should have a strategy to contain industrial pollution within a region, and that can improve the air quality in Calcutta,” she said. “It could be that the pollution is coming from Howrah or the peripheries of Calcutta. The strategy should factor in these neighbouring places also.” Roy Chowdhury advocated having more electric vehicles, replacing those that run on diesel and petrol. “Even with advanced engines, there will be some amount of tailpipe emission, which will be nil with electric vehicles,” she said. Replacing all coal-fired ovens with induction ovens that run on electricity can cut down the small eateries’ contribution to air pollution. “Hawkers and those running ironing units should be incentivised to run electric-powered induction ovens or heating,” said Punarbasu Chaudhuri, professor and head of environmental science at Calcutta University. “The government should think of giving them access to subsidised power.” State pollution control board officials said that construction activities across the city were responsible for so much dust remaining suspended in the air. “Road dust can be suppressed by sprinkling water. Those in charge of construction sites should keep the soil and construction materials moist by sprinkling water. This will prevent the dust from rising,” an official said.

India Faced Daily Extreme Weather in 2025, Averaging 12 Deaths Every Day

India experienced extreme weather on 331 of 334 days between January and November 2025, with an average of 12 deaths reported daily, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth. The total death toll stood at 4,419, the highest in four years, while widespread floods, storms, landslides and heatwaves damaged crops, homes and livestock across all 36 states and Union Territories, according to the report. In total, around 17.4 million hectares of farmland were affected, along with the destruction of more than 181,000 homes and the deaths of nearly 77,200 animals. Maharashtra bore the brunt of agricultural loss, with 8.4 million hectares of crop damage. Gujarat and Karnataka followed with 4.4 million and 2.75 million hectares, respectively. The north-west region, which includes Punjab and the Himalayan states, recorded extreme weather on 311 days, the most of any region. The east and north-east followed with 275 such days. The north-west also reported the highest number of deaths, at 1,459, followed by central India with 1,120. Across the year, extreme weather occurred daily in nine of the eleven months: February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. In comparison, such frequency was recorded in six months of 2024 and five in 2023, reflecting a steady shrinkage in the duration of normal weather conditions. For the third consecutive year, all 36 states and Union Territories experienced extreme weather events. The 331 days of incidents in 2025 surpassed the 295 recorded in 2024, 296 in 2023 and 292 in 2022. Among specific hazards, lightning and thunderstorms proved deadliest, killing 1,538 people. Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest state-wise toll at 608 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 537 and Jharkhand with 478. The figures come amid continued criticism of the government for clearing high-emission infrastructure and extractive projects even as climate-linked disasters become more frequent and severe. Extreme events began early in the year. Winter saw events on 97 percent of days, a sharp rise from 64 percent in 2022, driven largely by an increase in heavy rain and flood days. Rainfall occurred on 51 of the 59 days between January and February, disrupting what is typically a dry season. The first heatwave of the year was recorded on February 25 in Goa and Maharashtra, marking the earliest appearance of heatwave conditions during the winter period. February also turned out to be the warmest in 124 years, with extreme weather reported in 31 states and Union Territories, nearly double the spread seen in February 2024 and five times higher than in 2023. Between March and May, extreme weather continued without a break, occurring on nearly every day of the season. Heatwaves became more frequent and widespread, affecting 19 states, including higher-altitude regions such as Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. At least 990 deaths were reported during this three-month period, more than triple the 302 deaths recorded in the same season in 2022. Heavy rain, floods and landslides emerged as the dominant events, overtaking hailstorms that had previously been more common. The monsoon season, spanning June through September, brought extreme weather on all 122 days. Heavy rain, floods and landslides were reported daily across 35 states and Union Territories, while lightning and storms occurred on 104 days, cloudbursts on 17 days and heatwaves on eight days. During this period, at least 11 million hectares of cropped land were damaged, accounting for roughly 65 percent of the total loss nationwide. The actual extent of damage may be higher due to incomplete state-level reporting. Flooding and landslides proved to be the deadliest hazards of the year, together causing 2,707 deaths. Yet, despite the relentless downpours, around one-fifth of the country’s districts experienced rainfall deficits. By the end of September, 147 of 727 districts had received deficient or largely deficient rain, underscoring the uneven and erratic nature of monsoon distribution. Extreme weather continued into the post-monsoon months of October and November. All 61 days in this period recorded events across 34 states and Union Territories. Himachal Pradesh reported the highest frequency, with events on 50 days, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 38 and Kerala with 26. October was particularly wet in the southern peninsula, ranking as the 13th wettest since 1901. Coldwaves arrived earlier than usual, beginning on November 7, nearly two weeks ahead of the November 21 onset in 2022. In contrast to past years, when coldwaves were largely limited to Maharashtra and Rajasthan, 2025 saw such conditions spread across 13 states covering all four regions of the country, marking a significant expansion in reach. Environmentalists say the government has allowed major road, hydropower and mining projects to go ahead in fragile areas like the Western Ghats and Himalayan states by weakening environmental rules. In many cases, environmental impact assessments have been skipped or watered down, meaning these projects are approved without fully examining the long-term damage they could cause. Activists have also raised concerns over limited investment in climate adaptation measures. While early warning systems have improved, critics say rehabilitation, resilient housing and agricultural support remain underfunded. India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change has been revised, but implementation at the state level remains uneven and poorly financed. Activists have also raised concerns about the lack of investment in helping communities adapt to climate risks. They say that while early warning systems have improved, there is still not enough support for rebuilding homes, restoring livelihoods or strengthening farming systems after disasters. India has updated its National Action Plan on Climate Change, but critics say many states are struggling to put it into action due to weak planning and limited funding.

Climate Change and You: Will 2026 be hotter, wetter, or both?

The monsoon this year was devastating. In the first nine months of 2025, between January and September, India experienced extreme weather events on 99% of the days, according to a report from the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment. The extreme events, which include lightning and storms, heavy rain, floods, and landslides, claimed 4,064 lives, affected 9.5 million hectares of crop area and destroyed 99,533 houses. We don’t know how 2026 will turn out: hotter, wetter, or both? But one thing is certain: we are reaching a stage where the weather will increasingly impact holiday plans. Some are warning that this is the "beginning of the age of non-tourism".

Global Disaster Rankings 2025: Where India and Pakistan Stand

India’s 2025 monsoon season wasn’t just another rainy period. It turned into one of the world’s worst climate disasters, killing over 1,860 people and draining $5.6 billion from India and Pakistan combined. A new global report from Christian Aid, “Counting the Cost 2025”, shows this disaster ranked fifth among the 10 costliest extreme weather events that hit the planet this year. May 2025 broke records as India’s wettest May ever documented. The rains kept coming. By September, India had received 8 percent more rainfall than normal. Weather officials counted 2,277 separate flooding and heavy rain incidents across just four months. The monsoon arrived early and hit hard. Rivers burst their banks. Farms vanished underwater. Mountain regions faced deadly landslides and sudden floods. Melting glaciers made everything worse. Thousands of towns found themselves completely submerged. Pakistan suffered alongside India. More than seven million Pakistanis alone felt the disaster’s impact. Homes washed away. Crops were destroyed. Families lost everything they owned. Poor Countries Pay Highest Price Christian Aid, a global charity fighting poverty, released these findings in their yearly report called Counting the Cost 2025. The report reveals something striking: while rich countries can measure their losses in insurance money, poor countries measure theirs in lives lost. Asia bore the worst of it. Four of the six most expensive disasters happened in Asian countries. But expense doesn’t tell the whole story. India and Pakistan’s monsoon killed more people than any other single disaster on the list, even though it ranked only fifth in financial cost. Mohamed Adow runs Power Shift Africa, a research group. He explained the unfairness clearly: “While wealthy nations count the financial cost of disasters, millions of people across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean are counting lost lives, homes and futures.” What Happened Around World Christian Aid’s report tracked 10 major disasters worldwide. Together, they cost more than $120 billion. California’s wildfires alone accounted for half that amount at $60 billion. The fires killed over 400 people when counting both direct deaths and those who died from related causes. India’s Full Disaster Picture Worse Another group called Centre for Science and Environment dug into India’s official data. What they found was shocking. India faced extreme weather on 99 out of every 100 days during the first nine months of 2025. Every single one of the 122 monsoon days brought extreme weather somewhere in the country. The toll was massive: 4,064 people died, 9.47 million hectares of crops were damaged, 99,533 houses were destroyed, and nearly 59,000 animals were killed. And these numbers are incomplete. The real damage was likely higher. Himachal Pradesh got hit worst. Natural disasters struck the state on 103 days. Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh each faced 94 days of disasters.

Coal power returns to centre stage as states snub cheaper green energy: Report

India's push toward renewable energy is facing fresh headwinds as state power utilities increasingly turn to coal-based electricity, raising concerns over the country's clean energy transition. An analysis published by Mint shows that several states are locking into long-term thermal power contracts even as cheaper solar and wind capacity remains without buyers. States including Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and West Bengal have recently signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for coal-fired electricity at tariffs as high as Rs 6.64 per unit, despite renewable energy being available in the Rs 2.5-4 per unit range. The primary reason cited by discoms is the intermittent nature of renewable power, which depends on weather conditions and lacks round-the-clock availability. Even hybrid renewable projects that combine solar, wind and battery storage-offering power at Rs 5 per unit or lower-are struggling to attract buyers. Discoms remain cautious due to concerns over battery supply chains and costs, while thermal power continues to provide dependable baseload electricity. Four people familiar with developments in the sector told Mint this trend points to further weakening demand for renewable power. A senior official at a state power distribution company, which has recently signed a thermal PPA, said uncertainty around the viability of green projects quoting extremely low tariffs is a key concern. The official added that battery services attract 18% GST, batteries are largely imported, and current storage solutions can supply power for only up to seven hours. Thermal power, by contrast, offers assured fuel supply and consistent availability, which remains critical for meeting 24x7 demand. The shift toward coal comes even as India plans to add nearly 100GW of new coal-fired capacity by 2032, amid electricity demand growing at roughly 10% annually. India holds the world's fourth-largest coal reserves and is the second-largest coal producer. Recent PPAs illustrate the trend. Assam Power Distribution Co. Ltd has tied up 3.2GW of thermal power at Rs 6.64 per unit, while Bihar State Power Generation Co. Ltd has signed a 2.4GW deal at Rs 6.08 per unit. Additional coal-based PPAs include 800MW by MP Power Management Co. Ltd, 1,600MW by West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd, and 1.5GW by Uttar Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd, with tariffs ranging between Rs 5.38 and Rs 5.85 per unit, tariff petitions and regulatory filings show. Approval for Uttar Pradesh's PPA is still pending. This renewed appetite for coal comes even as 43GW of renewable energy capacity, involving proposed investments of Rs 2.1 trillion, remains stranded without PPAs or power supply agreements, Mint reported earlier. In addition, renewable-rich states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat have recently curtailed solar generation due to surplus supply and grid constraints. Green energy developers argue the preference for coal is economically flawed. Parag Sharma, chief executive of EQT-backed Zelestra India, told Mint that once coal price escalation and long-term costs are factored in, thermal power tariffs could exceed Rs 7 per unit, making renewables with storage far more competitive. He said battery-backed renewable power can effectively meet evening peak demand and that coal offers neither economic nor operational advantages over clean energy. High-cost thermal PPAs also limit the ability of states to meet their renewable purchase obligations (RPOs). Jayant Deo, former CEO of Indian Energy Exchange, said shrinking headroom for green power procurement will push large consumers toward open-access renewables, while rooftop solar and solar-based agricultural power expand. Coal continues to dominate India's power mix. Of the country's 509.7GW installed generation capacity, coal-based plants account for 219.6GW, or 43%, data from the Central Electricity Authority shows. Parth Kumar of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) noted that despite the National Electricity Plan aiming to reduce coal's share to 59% by FY27, it currently stands close to 70%. He told Mint that coal capacity addition targets have risen sharply in recent years, with projections increasing from 35GW by 2032 earlier to nearly 97GW by 2035 now. Kumar warned that long-term PPAs, typically spanning 25 years and allowing future cost pass-through, could undermine India's decarbonisation goals and lock discoms into expensive, polluting power. He called for a reassessment of the economic viability of new coal contracts. Former power secretary Anil Razdan said discoms prioritise reliability and availability over climate considerations, adding that inadequate transmission infrastructure also restricts renewable energy evacuation. Coal, he said, continues to meet the core requirement of dependable power supply.

Delhi Pollution : लोगों की लापरवाही के सामने सरकार बेबस

पिछले दो माह से अधिक समय से राजधानी दिल्ली गैस चैंबर बनी हुई है। एक्यूआई लगातार चार सौ के आसपास है और लोगों को सांस लेने में कठिनाई का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। पिछले कुछ दिन से पड़ रहे कोहरे ने लोगों की समस्या और भी ज्यादा बढ़ा दी है। ठंड और कोहरे के चलते दिल्ली और आसपास के क्षेत्र के वायुमंडल में जहरीली गैस और धुंए की एक मोटी परत बन चुकी है जो लोगों को परेशान कर रही है। फिलहाल दिल्ली-एनसीआर के लोगों को इससे राहत मिलती दिखाई नहीं दे रही। प्रदूषण के लिए दिल्ली वासी जिम्मेदार दिल्ली में लगातार गंभीर होते वायु प्रदूषण के आंकड़ो के लिए बाहरी नहीं बल्कि दिल्ली के लोग ही जिम्मेदार हैं। सरकार द्वारा प्रदूषण कम करने के लिए किए जा रहे सभी प्रयास विफल होते दिखाई दे रहे हैं। कारण है लोगों द्वारा बरती जा रही लापरवाही। दिल्ली में ग्रैप चार लागू है लेकिन लोग इसके नियम तोड़ रहे हैं। जगह-जगह लोग कूड़े में आग लगा रहे हैं। कोयला और लकड़ी जला रहे हैं वाहनों का अंधाधुंध प्रयोग कर रहे हैं। हर रोज प्रदूषण विभाग को हजारों ऐसी कॉल आ रही हैं जिसमें लोग सार्वजनिक स्थलों पर कूड़ें में आग लगी होने की जानकारी होती है। यही कारण है कि दिल्ली की बिगड़ती हवा के पीछे खुद दिल्लीवासियों की रोजमर्रा की कुछ आदतें भी बड़ी वजह हैं। दिल्ली की सड़कों पर निजी वाहनों की भरमार राजधानी में मेट्रो और बसें जैसे अच्छे सार्वजनिक परिवहन उपलब्ध हैं, लेकिन ज्यादातर लोग अपनी कारों में अकेले सफर करना पसंद करते हैं। इससे ट्रैफिक बढ़ता है और वाहनों से निकलने वाला धुआं हवा को जहरीला बनाता है। ब्लूक्राफ्ट और सीएसई समेत कई अन्य संगठन की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, दिल्ली में करीब एक करोड़ से ज्यादा वाहन हैं और इनसे निकलने वाला प्रदूषण पीएम2.5 के 15-25 फीसदी हिस्से के लिए जिम्मेदार है। लोग कहते हैं कि बस स्टॉप या मेट्रो स्टेशन तक पैदल जाना गंदा लगता है, लेकिन यही आदत प्रदूषण का चक्र चलाती रहती है। अगर ज्यादा लोग सार्वजनिक परिवहन इस्तेमाल करें, तो उत्सर्जन कम हो सकता है। खुले में कचरा जलाना, गरीब बस्तियों की मजबूरी शहर की गरीब बस्तियों और गांवों में लोग कचरा, पत्तियां या लकड़ी खुले में जला देते हैं, क्योंकि उनके पास बेहतर विकल्प नहीं होते। यह आदत पीएम2.5 के स्तर को तेजी से बढ़ाती है। इसके अलावा, आईआईटी कानपुर की एक स्टडी से पता चलता है कि सर्दियों में रात के समय 70 फीसदी महीन कण इसी जलाने से बनते हैं। वहीं, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की रिपोर्ट कहती है कि दिल्ली में 41 फीसदी घरों में लकड़ी या गोबर जैसे ईंधन इस्तेमाल होते हैं, जो धुआं फैलाते हैं। अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर हो रही किरकिरी देश की राजधानी दिल्ली प्रदूषण को लेकर पूरी दुनिया में सुर्खियों में है। इसे विश्व के सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में शुमार किया जा चुका है। इतना ही नहीं कनाडा, ब्रिटेन सहित कई देश अपने नागरिकों को दिल्ली आने-जाने से बचने की सलाह दे चुके हैं।

जानी दुश्मन... प्रदूषण: लोगों की जिद और आदतें दिल्ली को गैस चैंबर बनाने के लिए जिम्मेदार, हर जतन बेकार

सर्दी के शुरुआती महीनों में राजधानी की हवा जहर बन जाती है। हालात इतने बिगड़ जाते हैं कि देश-दुनिया में दिल्ली को ‘गैस चैंबर’ कहा जाने लगता है। आमतौर पर इसके लिए पराली जलाने, सर्दी के शुरुआती महीनों में राजधानी की हवा जहर बन जाती है। हालात इतने बिगड़ जाते हैं कि देश-दुनिया में दिल्ली को ‘गैस चैंबर’ कहा जाने लगता है। आमतौर पर इसके लिए पराली जलाने, मौसम की मार या हवा की रफ्तार को जिम्मेदार ठहरा दिया जाता है, लेकिन कारण यही नहीं है। विशेषज्ञों और सरकारी रिपोर्टों के मुताबिक, दिल्ली की बिगड़ती हवा के पीछे खुद दिल्लीवासियों की रोजमर्रा की कुछ आदतें भी बड़ी वजह हैं। अकेले कार लेकर निकलना, छोटे सफर के लिए भी निजी वाहन का इस्तेमाल करना, खुले में कचरा जलाना, नियमों के बावजूद दिवाली पर पटाखे फोड़ना और प्रदूषण से जुड़े नियमों को हल्के में लेना ये सब मिलकर शहर की हवा को और जहरीला बना रहे हैं। जब तक इन आदतों पर लगाम नहीं लगेगी, दिल्ली की हवा को साफ करना एक बड़ी चुनौती बना रहेगा। राजधानी में मेट्रो और बसें जैसे अच्छे सार्वजनिक परिवहन उपलब्ध हैं, लेकिन ज्यादातर लोग अपनी कारों में अकेले सफर करना पसंद करते हैं। इससे ट्रैफिक बढ़ता है और वाहनों से निकलने वाला धुआं हवा को जहरीला बनाता है। ब्लूक्राफ्ट और सीएसई समेत कई अन्य संगठन की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, दिल्ली में करीब एक करोड़ से ज्यादा वाहन हैं और इनसे निकलने वाला प्रदूषण पीएम2. 5 के 15-25 फीसदी हिस्से के लिए जिम्मेदार है। लोग कहते हैं कि बस स्टॉप या मेट्रो स्टेशन तक पैदल जाना गंदा लगता है, लेकिन यही आदत प्रदूषण का चक्र चलाती रहती है। अगर ज्यादा लोग सार्वजनिक परिवहन इस्तेमाल करें, तो उत्सर्जन कम हो सकता है। खुले में कचरा जलाना, गरीब बस्तियों की मजबूरी पर्यावरणविद् प्रवीण मिश्रा के अनुसार, शहर की गरीब बस्तियों और गांवों में लोग कचरा, पत्तियां या लकड़ी खुले में जला देते हैं, क्योंकि उनके पास बेहतर विकल्प नहीं होते। यह आदत पीएम2.5 के स्तर को तेजी से बढ़ाती है। इसके अलावा, आईआईटी कानपुर की एक स्टडी से पता चलता है कि सर्दियों में रात के समय 70 फीसदी महीन कण इसी जलाने से बनते हैं। वहीं, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की रिपोर्ट कहती है कि दिल्ली में 41 फीसदी घरों में लकड़ी या गोबर जैसे ईंधन इस्तेमाल होते हैं, जो धुआं फैलाते हैं। दीपावली पर पटाखों की जिद कई रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दीपावली पर पटाखे फोड़ना दिल्लीवासियों की पुरानी आदत है, लेकिन 2025 में भी प्रतिबंध के बावजूद लोगों ने इसे जारी रखा। सीपीसीबी के आकंड़ों से पता चलता है कि दीपावली के बाद दिल्ली की हवा खतरनाक हो गई, क्योंकि पटाखों से निकलने वाला धुआं कम हवा की वजह से फंस जाता है। सीपीसीबी का कहना है कि पटाखे मौसमी पीएम2.5 में 30-40 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर दर्ज जोड़ते हैं। हालांकि, यह स्पाइक 24 घंटे में कम हो जाता है। डीपीसीसी की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, पटाखों के अलावा निर्माण और इंडस्ट्री भी प्रदूषण बढ़ने में योगदान देते हैं। पुराने वाहन और निर्माण की अनदेखी दिल्ली में पुराने वाहन चलाना या निर्माण साइटों पर नियम न मानना आम है। लोग नियम तोड़ते हैं और फिर सिस्टम को कोसते हैं। ब्लूक्राफ्ट रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि डीजल जेनरेटर सेट्स और निर्माण से निकलने वाली धूल 38-56 फीसदी प्रदूषण के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं। एक सर्वे से पता चला कि 82 फीसदी दिल्लीवासी जानते हैं कि कोई न कोई उनके आसपास प्रदूषण से बीमार है। विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि इन आदतों को बदलकर ही दिल्ली की हवा साफ हो सकती है। सीएसई की विशेषज्ञ शांभवी शुक्ला ने बताया कि सरकार को सख्ती से नियम लागू करने चाहिए और लोगों को जागरूक होना चाहिए।

Why You May Be Finding It Tough To Breathe: Burning Of Fuel Pushes NO2 To A 7-Year High

This year, the city recorded its highest annual average of nitrogen dioxide levels since 2018. The average concentration of the toxic gas till Dec 22 was 47 micrograms per cubic metre, up from 43 µg/m³ last year. It was higher than the annual national standard of 40 µg/m³ and 4.7 times more than World Health Organisation's annual safe guideline of 10 µg/m³. A highly reactive gas generated by burning fuel, it contains emissions from vehicles, power plants and industries. Central Pollution Control Board's data, analysed by EnviroCatalyst, a think tank, shows that the annual average nitrogen dioxide concentration was 35 µg/m³ in 2023, 40 µg/m³ in 2022 and 2021, 39 µg/m³ in 2020, 45 µg/m³ in 2019 and 48 µg/m³ in 2018. High-traffic zones and industrial areas feature among the hotspots. The highest annual mean concentration was recorded at ITO — a traffic hotspot with long waiting hours at red lights — at 69 µg/m³, followed by 68 µg/m³ at IGI Airport's Terminal 3. Anand Vihar and Shadipur, each at 66 µg/m³, Wazirpur at 65 µg/m³, Lodhi Road at 62 µg/m³ and Jahangirpuri (61 µg/m³ ) were the other hotspots. "Burning of waste in several localities has also contributed to its elevated levels, and that should be controlled. It means there is a need to reduce emissions from local sources within the city," said Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at EnviroCatalyst. Areas that witnessed high nitrogen dioxide concentrations this year were IIT-Delhi (59 µg/m³), Okhla Phase-2 (59 µg/m³), Dwarka Sector-8 (56 µg/m³), Pusa (54 µg/m³), Chandni Chowk (53 µg/m³), Najafgarh (52 µg/m³), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (52 µg/m³), Jahangirpuri (51 µg/m³), Dr Karni Shooting Range (50 µg/m³) and Patparganj (50 µg/m³). Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB's air laboratory, said the gas is produced due to high temperature and high-pressure combustion of fuel. "It is the precursor gas for the formation of ground-level ozone, which is a highly harmful pollutant. Nitrogen dioxide can combine with naturally available positive ions like ammonium, sodium, potassium and magnesium, and produce secondary particulate aerosols. Thus, it also helps in the production of particulate load in the air," said Saha. TOI reported on Dec 2 that a new analysis of early winter trends (Oct to Nov) in Delhi-NCR by Centre for Science and Environment revealed that PM2.5 rose and fell almost in tandem with the levels of nitrogen dioxide during morning (7-10 am) and evening (6-9 pm) hours, as both pollutants surged with traffic emissions and got trapped under shallow winter boundary layers.

Delhi Air Pollution: दिल्ली में GRAP-4 लागू, 10,000 वाहन फेल, PUC सर्टिफिकेट में सेंटर और टेस्टिंग पर उठे सवाल

दिल्ली के पर्यावरण मंत्री मनजिंदर सिंह सिरसा ने कहा है कि GRAP-4 लागू होने के बाद 10,000 से ज्यादा वाहन प्रदूषण जांच में फेल हो चुके हैं, जबकि 2 लाख से ज्यादा वाहनों को PUC (पॉल्यूशन अंडर कंट्रोल) सर्टिफिकेट जारी किए गए हैं। उन्होंने आगे कहा कि सरकार देरी को कम करने और सटीक उत्सर्जन परीक्षण सुनिश्चित करने के लिए सभी पीयूसी केंद्रों को उच्च क्षमता वाले उपकरणों से अपग्रेड कर रही है। इसके अलावा, PUC सर्टिफिकेट में विश्वसनीयता और पारदर्शिता को मजबूत करने के लिए एक थर्ड-पार्टी जांच सिस्टम शुरू किया जाएगा। उन्होंने बताया कि "बिना पीयूसी, बिना ईंधन" नियम लागू होने के बाद 2 लाख वाहनों का पीयूसी परीक्षण कराया गया। परीक्षण में शामिल लगभग 10,000 वाहन मानकों पर खरे नहीं उतरे। सिरसा ने आगे कहा, "यह स्पष्ट रूप से दर्शाता है कि प्रवर्तन उपायों को गंभीरता से लागू किया जा रहा है और उनसे अच्छे परिणाम मिल रहे हैं।" विशेषज्ञों के मुताबिक, फिलहाल सड़कों पर होने वाली वाहन जांच व्यवस्था काफी कमजोर है। यह जांच सिर्फ सरल टेस्ट पर आधारित होती है, जिसमें पेट्रोल वाहनों के लिए CO और हाइड्रोकार्बन (HC) का दो स्पीड पर टेस्ट और लैम्ब्डा टेस्ट, जबकि डीजल वाहनों के लिए स्मोक डेंसिटी टेस्ट किया जाता है। DTU के शोधकर्ताओं ने इससे पहले AQI-प्रकार की PUC सर्टिफिकेट सिस्टम शुरू की थी, जिसमें प्रदूषण जांच के दौरान वाहनों के माइलेज को भी ध्यान में रखा जाता था। उन्होंने एटमॉस्फेरिक पॉल्यूशन रिसर्च और अमेरिकन सोसाइटी ऑफ सिविल इंजीनियर्स (ACSE) में प्रकाशित पुराने अध्ययनों का हवाला दिया और सुझाव दिया कि PUC सर्टिफिकेट में माइलेज के साथ-साथ निरीक्षण और रखरखाव को भी महत्वपूर्ण कारक माना जाना चाहिए। DTU के पर्यावरण विज्ञान और इंजीनियरिंग विभाग में एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर डॉ. राजीव कुमार मिश्रा ने कहा कि मौजूदा परीक्षण और उपयोग में आने वाली कारों के पुन: प्रमाणन में मास एमिशन टेस्टिंग के साथ-साथ फास्ट आइडल कंडीशन को भी शामिल किया जाना चाहिए। उन्होंने बताया कि पीयूसी सर्टिफिकेट केवल कार के आइडल अवस्था में (यानी जब इंजन रेव नहीं कर रहा होता है) सीओ और हाइड्रोकार्बन उत्सर्जन के आधार पर दिया जाता है। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि 2500 rpm पर फास्ट आइडलिंग स्टेज में कभी-कभी NO2, PM2.5 और VOC जैसे उत्सर्जन दर्ज किए जाते हैं, लेकिन सर्टिफिकेशन के दौरान इन पर विचार नहीं किया जाता है। मिश्रा ने कहा, “यह तय करना कि किन वाहनों को चरणबद्ध तरीके से सेवा से हटाया जाना चाहिए या किन वाहनों को PUC सर्टिफिकेट जारी किए जाने चाहिए, केवल उनकी उम्र के आधार पर नहीं बल्कि कुल माइलेज, रखरखाव रिकॉर्ड और उत्सर्जन मानकों के अनुसार उनके प्रदर्शन के आधार पर होना चाहिए।” उन्होंने आगे कहा कि BS-6 के लिए कोई मानक नहीं हैं और प्रत्येक वाहन का परीक्षण उसके निर्माण प्रकार के आधार पर किया जाता है। CSE के एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, वाहनों से निकलने वाला धुआं दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण के प्रमुख स्रोतों में से एक है और इसका मानव स्वास्थ्य पर सीधा प्रभाव पड़ता है। PUC जांच से भले ही अत्यधिक प्रदूषण फैलाने वाले वाहनों को सड़क से हटाया जा सके, लेकिन इससे PM2.5 और अन्य जहरीली गैसों जैसे हानिकारक प्रदूषण की समस्या का समाधान नहीं होता है। "स्रोत निर्धारण और उत्सर्जन सूची पर किए गए विभिन्न अध्ययनों से पता चला है कि कण उत्सर्जन में वाहनों का योगदान दूसरा सबसे बड़ा है। वाहन अत्यधिक विषैले पदार्थों के संपर्क में आने के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं, क्योंकि उत्सर्जन सांस लेने की ऊंचाई पर होता है," सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट में वायु प्रदूषण कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक शम्भावी शुक्ला ने कहा। उन्होंने रिमोट सेंसिंग तंत्र जैसे अधिक आधुनिक वाहन उत्सर्जन निगरानी प्रणालियों का सुझाव दिया।

Delhi records highest annual avg of NO2 levels since 2018; ITO worst hit

Delhi, which is battling with the worsening air quality, has recorded its highest annual average of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels since 2018, according to a report by The Times of India. The average concentration of the toxic gas until December 22 was 47 micrograms per cubic metre, higher than last year’s 43 µg/m³, and exceeding both the Indian national standard of 40 µg/m³ and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline of 10 µg/m³ by nearly five times. Nitrogen dioxide is a highly reactive gas generated by the burning of fuel, and it contains emissions from vehicles, power plants, and various industries. The report cited EnviroCatalyst, a think tank, which analysed the data by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). According to EnviroCatalyst, in 2023, the annual average concentration of nitrogen dioxide was 35 µg/m³, 40 µg/m³ in 2022 and 2021, 39 µg/m³ in 2020, 45 µg/m³ in 2019, and 48 µg/m³ in 2018. Where are the pollution hotspots? High-traffic zones and industrial areas showed the highest concentration of nitrogen dioxide this year. Among them, ITO, known for heavy congestion and long waits at traffic signals, recorded the highest annual mean level at 69 µg/m³. Other hotspots included IGI Airport’s Terminal 3, Anand Vihar, Shadipur, and Wazirpur, with readings above 60 µg/m³ in each location. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at EnviroCatalyst, told the newspaper that "burning of waste in several localities has also contributed to its elevated levels". He further said there is a need to reduce emissions from local sources within the city. Which areas witnessed high concentration in 2025? According to the report, some of the areas that witnessed the high nitrogen dioxide concentration this year included IIT-Delhi (59µg/m³), Okhla Phase-2 (59 µg/m³), Dwarka Sector-8 (56 µg/m³), Pusa (54 µg/m³), Chandni Chowk (53 µg/m³), Najafgarh (52 µg/m³), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (52 µg/m³), Jahangirpuri (51 µg/m³), Dr Karni Shooting Range (50 µg/m³), and Patparganj (50 µg/m³). Cocktail of pollution during early winter in Delhi-NCR Recently, a new assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of early winter (October–November) and annual air quality trends in the national capital highlights rising air toxicity, worsening pollution in smaller towns across the NCR, and the risk of reversing Delhi’s long-term air quality gains. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE, told the newspaper, "Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed."

Delhi’s invisible chokehold: NO2 pollution hits 7-year high, traffic and industry prime culprits

Breathing in Delhi may feel harder than usual this year, and the data offers a stark explanation. The capital has recorded its highest annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels since 2018, underlining the growing impact of vehicular exhaust and industrial activity on urban air quality. According to figures compiled till December 22, Delhi’s average NO2 concentration stood at 47 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), up from 43 µg/m³ last year. The level breaches India’s annual ambient air quality standard of 40 µg/m³ and is nearly five times the World Health Organisation’s recommended annual guideline of 10 µg/m³. Nitrogen dioxide is a highly reactive gas released primarily through fuel combustion, with vehicles, power plants and industrial units among its main sources. An analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data by think tank EnviroCatalyst shows that NO₂ levels have remained persistently high in recent years. The annual average concentration was 35 µg/m³ in 2023, 40 µg/m³ in both 2022 and 2021, 39 µg/m³ in 2020, 45 µg/m³ in 2019 and 48 µg/m³ in 2018. Traffic-heavy junctions and industrial pockets have emerged as the city’s worst-affected zones. ITO, a major traffic bottleneck known for long signal waiting times, recorded the highest annual mean concentration at 69 µg/m³. It was followed closely by IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 at 68 µg/m³. Anand Vihar and Shadipur reported 66 µg/m³ each, Wazirpur 65 µg/m³, Lodhi Road 62 µg/m³ and Jahangirpuri 61 µg/m³. Experts say local sources within the city need urgent attention. “Burning of waste in several localities has also contributed to its elevated levels, and that should be controlled. It means there is a need to reduce emissions from local sources within the city,” said Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at EnviroCatalyst. Several other monitoring stations also logged worrying concentrations this year. IIT-Delhi and Okhla Phase-2 recorded 59 µg/m³ each, Dwarka Sector-8 56 µg/m³, Pusa 54 µg/m³, Chandni Chowk 53 µg/m³, Najafgarh and Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium 52 µg/m³ each, Jahangirpuri 51 µg/m³, and Dr Karni Shooting Range and Patparganj 50 µg/m³ each. Beyond its direct health impact, NO₂ plays a critical role in worsening overall air pollution. Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB’s air laboratory, explained that the gas is generated during high-temperature, high-pressure fuel combustion. “It is the precursor gas for the formation of ground-level ozone, which is a highly harmful pollutant. Nitrogen dioxide can combine with naturally available positive ions like ammonium, sodium, potassium and magnesium, and produce secondary particulate aerosols. Thus, it also helps in the production of particulate load in the air,” said Saha. Earlier this month, a Centre for Science and Environment analysis of early winter trends in Delhi-NCR (October to November) found that PM2.5 levels closely mirrored NO₂ concentrations during peak traffic hours in the morning and evening. Both pollutants spiked with vehicular emissions and were trapped near the surface by shallow winter boundary layers, compounding the city’s seasonal air quality crisis.

To Battle Air Pollution, Leverage India’s Start-up Ecosystem

The second major constraint in India’s air pollution response is limited monitoring capacity. Only about 12 percent of the country’s 4,041 census cities currently have continuous air quality monitoring stations, leaving approximately 47 percent of the population outside reliable surveillance systems. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, cities with populations between 100,000 and one million alone require thousands of additional monitors for pollutants such as PM, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and surface ozone. These gaps create significant blind spots in identifying emission hotspots and assessing local pollution trends.