"The mornings have already started feeling stuffy. It will get worse in the coming days, so it's better to be prepared," says the 43-year-old teacher.
Like many other residents, Rana knows that the arrival of winter and the festive season also brings months of polluted air. Delhi and its satellite cities record some of the world's highest pollution levels throughout the year, but air quality frequently deteriorates further during winter, making outdoor conditions difficult to endure.
Falling temperatures and slower wind speeds prevent pollutants from dispersing, trapping them close to the ground. Smoke from crop residue burning in neighbouring states combines with emissions from vehicles and factories, construction dust and firecrackers used during festivals, further worsening air quality.
The recurring pollution crisis raises questions about why Delhi continues to face hazardous air every winter despite repeated government interventions and public pressure.
This year, however, the Delhi government announced its Winter Action Plan months before the most severe smog period. The plan, which came into effect on 1 November and will remain in place until 28 February, covers the months when pollution levels typically rise.
Experts have described the early announcement as a positive development, pointing out that previous years often saw authorities introduce measures only after pollution had reached alarming levels. However, they caution that announcing a plan alone will not resolve the problem and stress the need for comprehensive, long-term measures.
Within days of the plan coming into effect, Delhi began slipping into its familiar winter pollution cycle. A grey haze has covered parts of the city this week, accompanied by a smoky smell that residents have come to recognise. Complaints of eye irritation and breathing difficulties have increased, while coughing and sneezing have become common.
Air purifiers have increasingly become household necessities for those who can afford them. People stepping outdoors wear masks or cover their faces with cloth in an attempt to limit their exposure to polluted air.
Tackling air pollution was among the promises made by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party during last year's election campaign. The implementation of its Winter Action Plan has therefore emerged as a significant test of that commitment.
Under the plan, the government has restricted the entry of older, more polluting vehicles registered outside Delhi. Vehicles without a certificate confirming compliance with emission standards are also being denied fuel.
Demolition activities and outdoor construction work that generate dust have been temporarily prohibited. The government is also discouraging the use of private vehicles by asking offices to allow half of their employees to work from home. It has introduced staggered office timings for its staff and doubled parking charges.
Other measures include strengthening pollution monitoring and enforcement, alongside promoting public transport and electric vehicles.
These restrictions operate separately from the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap), which is overseen by the federal Commission for Air Quality Management.
Grap introduces restrictions in different stages, with increasingly stringent measures activated as pollution levels rise. Its second stage is in force this week, restricting the use of diesel generators and the burning of coal and firewood.
Experts say the measures collectively provide a framework for responding to worsening air quality, but their effectiveness will depend largely on implementation.
"There are a lot of positive changes as far as planning is concerned, but when it comes to execution, we probably still stand at the same level," says Parthaa Bosu, strategic adviser at the Environmental Defense Fund, a non-profit group focused on delivering climate solutions.
Other experts argue that Delhi's pollution crisis requires a broader approach that addresses emissions across multiple sectors rather than concentrating primarily on vehicle restrictions, construction activities and crop residue burning.
"If we want to reduce pollution, we need to set targets for every sector - including power generation, industry and transport - not just vehicle entry, construction and stubble burning," says Manoj Kumar, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
"We know how much each sector and each state contributes to pollution. We can set targets to reduce emissions from each of them over the next five years."
Bosu also highlights secondary pollutants as an important but frequently overlooked contributor to deteriorating air quality. These pollutants form when gases in the atmosphere react with sunlight, water vapour and other substances, producing harmful particles.
"Pollution is not just caused by biomass burning or vehicles," he says. "Dust being stirred up from the ground, coal and fly ash, materials burned at brick kilns and the large-scale burning of urban waste are also contributing to the problem. And much of this is still not being stopped."
Delhi's pollution levels are also influenced by activities beyond the city's borders. According to Bosu, pollutants travel into the capital from neighbouring states and other parts of northern India, adding to the existing pollution burden.
Consequently, measures implemented within Delhi alone can achieve only limited results. Addressing the crisis requires coordinated action involving neighbouring states and the wider northern region, he adds.
The health consequences of prolonged exposure to polluted air remain a major concern. During winter, government monitoring stations across Delhi frequently record Air Quality Index (AQI) readings above 300, which falls under the "very poor" category.
On particularly polluted days, readings can reach 500, the highest point on India's AQI scale. However, this does not mean pollution cannot rise further. It only indicates the upper limit recorded by domestic monitoring systems. International trackers, including Switzerland-based IQAir, have recorded readings close to 1,000 on certain days.
The World Health Organization recommends that average PM2.5 concentrations over 24 hours should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic metre. During Delhi's pollution season, levels frequently rise to more than 25 times that recommended limit.
Dr Manoj Goel, pulmonology unit head at Fortis Memorial Research Institute near Delhi, explains that exposure to these microscopic particles can have serious consequences for human health.
These tiny particles "can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and affecting multiple organs".
Even short-term exposure can lead to throat irritation, coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. It can also aggravate existing heart and lung conditions.
A 2025 report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago estimated that air pollution could reduce life expectancy in Delhi by up to 8.2 years.
Beyond its health consequences, the pollution crisis and the restrictions introduced to control it are also disrupting everyday life.
Delhi shares close economic and commuting links with its satellite cities, including Noida and Gurugram. Thousands of people travel between these locations every day for work. Vehicle checks and restrictions at the city's borders have resulted in long queues, leaving commuters stranded in traffic for hours.
Although the government's latest measures have raised some expectations, public frustration continues to grow. Protests, political disputes and court interventions have become recurring features of Delhi's annual pollution crisis. Despite repeated government action and public pressure, hazardous air returns every winter.
For Meenu Rana, the preparations have become part of an annual routine. She keeps the windows closed, draws the curtains and has added more indoor plants to her home.
The approaching winter continues to cause concern for her family, but unlike many other residents, they are not planning to leave Delhi.
"I would have left the city long ago had there been an option, but my son has his school, my husband and I have our jobs as well, which makes it practically impossible," she says.
"What option do we have? It is unfair but we will have to live with it."
As Delhi enters another winter pollution season, the challenge extends beyond temporary restrictions and emergency responses. The recurring crisis highlights the need for effective enforcement, sector-specific emission reduction targets and coordinated action across northern India to address the sources of pollution.
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