Delhi's air quality continued its decline on Sunday, worsening to "very poor" from the earlier "poor" category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's AQI on Saturday stood at 268, placing it firmly in the "poor" range. This comes amid rising pollution levels as the city gears up for the Diwali festival, a time when fireworks and increased emissions often exacerbate air quality issues.
Within the National Capital Region (NCR), neighboring cities also recorded concerning AQI levels. Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 324, categorized as "very poor," while Noida and Gurugram reported AQIs of 298 and 258, respectively, remaining in the "poor" category.
Nine stations in the 'very poor' zone
Out of the 38 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, nine fell into the "very poor" category. Some stations are dangerously close to entering the "severe" zone, which is a health hazard. The highest recorded AQI was 389 at Anand Vihar, followed by Wazirpur (351), Bawana (309), Jahangirpuri (310), and others including Okhla, Vivek Vihar, and Dwarka, all hovering between 303 and 310.
According to CPCB data, AQI readings are categorized as follows:
* 0-50: Good
* 51-100: Satisfactory
* 101-200: Moderate
* 201-300: Poor
* 301-400: Very Poor
* 401-500: Severe
The leading source of Delhi's pollution remains transport emissions. With increasing vehicle numbers and construction activities, particularly in preparation for the upcoming festival, pollution levels are expected to rise further in the coming days. The Air Quality Early Warning System has forecast similar air quality conditions for the near future, with no immediate relief in sight.
Delhi weather
On Saturday, the maximum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 33.5°C, slightly above the normal temperature for the season. The minimum temperature was 19.6°C, also above average.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts clear skies for Sunday, with temperatures expected to remain consistent. However, the calm weather conditions are likely to trap pollutants near the surface, worsening the air quality.