Priyanka urges Centre, Delhi Govt to act as capital chokes under 'filthy smog'

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday voiced deep concern over Delhi’s deteriorating air quality, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav , and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to take swift and united steps to clear the “filthy smog” engulfing the national capital.

Calling the city’s pollution a “grey shroud” that has blanketed the skies, Priyanka said returning to Delhi’s air after visiting Wayanad and Bihar was “truly shocking.” In a post on X, she wrote that it was time for all political parties to act together. “It’s really about time all of us get together regardless of our political compulsions and do something about it. The central and state governments need to act immediately, and we will all support and cooperate with whatever actions they choose to take to mitigate this awful situation,” she said.

The Congress general secretary added that Delhiites face this toxicity year after year with no escape , and urged authorities to prioritise those most affected, children, senior citizens, and people with respiratory problems . “Urgent intervention is needed to clear the filthy smog we are all breathing,” she appealed.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) , Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 386 (‘very poor’) on Sunday morning, up from 303 a day earlier. The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) reported that wind speed had dropped below 8 kmph , limiting the dispersion of pollutants.

At least 17 monitoring stations recorded ‘severe’ air quality with readings above 400, the highest being Wazirpur at 439 , while 20 others reported ‘very poor’ levels. 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’.

As Delhi continues to struggle under its annual haze, Priyanka’s message echoed the growing public frustration over government inaction and called for a united front to reclaim the city’s right to breathe clean air.