As air pollution in Delhi‑NCR surged to alarming levels this week, Kiran Bedi, now a resident of Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, made a public appeal for federal intervention. In a post on X she wrote, “I live in Indirapuram, and the AQI is 587 right now. I have not sent my child to school inspite of teachers messages. I have written a firm mail to the principal. Whatever is in my area of control I will do that.” She added: “Sir please intervene proactively,” calling the situation “Agonising. And depressing.”
Bedi described the worsening environment as more than just inconvenient — for her and many others, it has become a health and lifestyle emergency. Once a habitual evening walker, she now finds herself stuck indoors with an air purifier, wondering aloud: “Can I remain captive in my own house with an air purifier?”
It’s Agonising. And depressing. @PMOIndia Sir please intervene proactively.
“I live in Indirapuram, and the AQI is 587 right now. I have not sent my child to school inspite of teachers messages. I have written a firm mail to the principal. Whatever is in my area of control I…
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) November 27, 2025
Her appeal to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) reflects not only personal distress but mounting public concern over what many see as a governance failure to address recurrent pollution crises across the region.
Air Pollution Crisis Spreads Beyond Delhi
The air‑quality breakdown is not limited to the capital alone. According to observers and residents in surrounding districts — including parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan — the toxic smog has spilled over in recent days. Bedi pointed out that over two dozen neighbouring districts now share the burden, saying tackling the crisis “requires political heavyweight, it’s political decision making.”
She argued that this moment offers a rare chance for cohesive action, urging inter‑state cooperation rather than fragmented blame games. “There is no reason why cooperation between the capital and neighbouring regions cannot happen,” she said.
Her shift in tone — from earlier caution about loading everything on the PMO to now seeking direct intervention — stems from her own experience of the crisis. She admitted she realized the severity only after moving to Delhi, unlike when she lived elsewhere earlier.
Judiciary Flags Public Health Emergency
The environmental stress forced the judiciary itself to sit up. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India (SC) agreed to hear a plea on the Delhi‑NCR pollution crisis on 3 December 2025, calling the widespread air‑quality deterioration a “health emergency.” The court acknowledged that while it cannot alone solve the problem, it can press for continuous monitoring and push authorities to act.
The bench — led by Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi — noted that the scale of the crisis affects every resident of the region and urged domain experts to propose long‑term solutions. “What magic wand can a judicial forum exercise?” the bench asked.
In recent days, courts have even urged lawyers to avoid appearing in person, citing health risks from the toxic air — a stark signal of how deep the crisis runs.
AQI spikes, GRAP curbs lifted — confusion, risk
Despite dangerously high readings, some of the region’s pollution‑control measures have been rolled back. After a brief dip in AQI, the regional pollution body lifted certain restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), even as many monitoring stations recorded “severe” air‑quality levels.
From Anand Vihar to Bawana, multiple areas registered AQI readings above 400. Schools have closed in many parts, and several districts issued strong health advisories. Experts warn that such shifts — rollback of restrictions amid bad air — risk underestimating the threat and exposing millions to toxic air.
