Delhi’s skies are turning grey and grim as stubble burning curls its smoky fingers over the city, turning the air into a thick blanket of pollution! According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, stubble burning will be the biggest villain behind Delhi's worsening air quality from November 6 to 8, dragging the AQI deep into the ‘very poor’ zone. Thursday morning began with a hazy dawn as a thin smog layer covered the city. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported the Air Quality Index (AQI) at a worrying 278 — already close to ‘very poor’. Brace yourself because the forecast warns that from Thursday, air quality will dip further, maintaining ‘very poor’ levels for the next six days. How big is the stubble burning problem? The Delhi State Science (DSS) data reveals a frightening spike: stubble burning's share of PM2.5 pollution jumped from a tiny 1.2% on Wednesday to a massive 21.5% on Thursday. It’s set to shoot up even more — a whopping 36.9% on Friday and 32.4% on Saturday. Satellite images confirm the grim reality — 94 fire cases in Punjab, 13 in Haryana, and 74 in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday alone. After stubble burning, the second biggest pollution culprit is transport. Vehicles contribute 16.2% of the PM2.5 load on Thursday, with a slight dip on Friday and Saturday, but still significant. The city’s battle with pollution is fierce and far from over. Weather is also playing a tricky role. Winds from the northwest will pick up speed to around 15 kmph by afternoon on Thursday, which might help push some smog away. But by evening, winds will slow down below 10 kmph, trapping haze and mist under a mostly clear sky. Delhi has been in the 'poor' quality bracket for the last two days, with AQI under 300. This comes after several days stuck in the ‘very poor’ zone with readings over 300. But the upcoming days show a tougher challenge as the air stays thick with pollution, thanks to the fiery stubble burning season. So, Delhiites, get ready for smokier skies and stay cautious. The city’s air is set to take a deep dive into the ‘very poor’ category starting Thursday, and the smoky saga looks set to continue well into the weekend!