A massive sandstorm hit Delhi in May 2025, which dipped the Air Quality Index (AQI) to the poor category. However, the cognizance of the matter was washed away by the rainfall following the storm. Storms carried the dust particles, mainly contributing to the air pollution.
Once these particles are settled in the wet state on the ground, they are no longer bound to the soil once dry weather returns. The infertile city land is not capable of keeping the dust particles grounded. This dust either flows due to the flow of air, vehicle movement, or construction work. The infrastructural projects or construction works in India do not address the handling of loose sand on-site & storage conditions. Muncipal corporations do not address dust on the roads as a problem after the loosely held Swatch Bharat Abhiyan from 2018.
Negligence on the major issue of dust accumulation also leads to silting of sewage across the NCR. Major drainage systems are cleaned before the monsoon, but till now, it all goes into the veins. Silt cleared from the sewage either gets back into it in the next rain or is dumped into the area, which again results in a pile of dust.
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