New Delhi: Delhi continued to struggle with heavy air pollution on Wednesday as thick haze covered many areas of the national capital. The air quality index was recorded in the very poor category with many monitoring stations showing alarming levels of pollution.

Data from several monitoring sources showed the overall air quality index at around 337, while some places such as Anand Vihar recorded levels as high as 402 on Tuesday, which falls under the severe category. Reports said that thirty four out of thirty nine official stations in the city reported very poor air quality and the remaining showed poor conditions.

Residents woke up to low visibility as smog settled across major roads including India Gate and ITO. Weather experts said slow wind speed and cold air were preventing pollutants from dispersing. This has led to the continued buildup of harmful particles in the air, especially PM2.5 and PM10.

Forecasts suggest that the situation is likely to remain the same over the next few days as wind conditions are not expected to improve. Despite restrictions already in place under the Graded Response Action Plan phase three, including construction bans and limits on vehicle use, pollution levels have not shown significant improvement.

A recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reported that Delhi now records the highest annual PM2.5 exposure among Indian regions. The findings have raised concern among health experts who warn that prolonged exposure to toxic air may affect health, especially for children, senior citizens and those with breathing problems.

Officials have advised people to avoid outdoor physical activities, especially early in the morning and late in the evening. Health advisories also recommend using masks and air purifiers at home if possible.

Air pollution during winter has become a yearly challenge for the city. Experts say the main causes include vehicle emissions, industry waste, dust from construction and farm stubble burning in neighboring states.

Authorities said efforts to control pollution are ongoing but long term solutions including better waste management, public transport expansion and cleaner fuel use are needed to prevent the crisis from repeating every year.

Residents continue to hope for a shift in weather or stronger action that could offer some relief from the choking air.