Delhi Air Quality Enters Very Poor Category Ahead of Diwali

Delhi's air quality entered the very poor category on Monday morning, ending a brief period of cleaner air that followed last week's rain. The Central Pollution Control Board reported an AQI of 349 at the ITO area on Monday morning.

The deterioration followed a sharp rise over the weekend. The city's 24-hour average AQI stood at 117 on Saturday in the moderate category, then climbed to 261 on Sunday in the poor category. Sunday's average was the highest since April 17, when Delhi recorded an AQI of 263.

“No favourable meteorological conditions are expected for next 7-10 days.”

On Friday, rainfall and strong winds had brought the AQI down to 60, giving Delhi its cleanest October day in four years. That improvement proved short-lived as pollution surged again.

Readings were available from 58 of the capital's 59 monitoring stations on Monday morning. Of these, 36 stations registered very poor air quality, while Jahangirpuri was the only location in the severe category with an AQI of 417. Five stations reported moderate conditions and the remaining 16 were in the poor range.

Under CPCB classification, AQI readings between 301 and 400 are considered very poor, while readings between 401 and 500 fall in the severe category. Stubble burning contribution rose to 18.57 percent.

A meteorologist warned that unfavourable weather could worsen pollution across Delhi-NCR over the next seven to 10 days. No favourable meteorological conditions are expected during that period. Delhi's winter pollution action plan came into effect on November 1.