Delhi's air turns 'very poor' as smog blankets the capital
Delhi's air turns 'very poor' as smog blankets the capital
Delhi's air quality stays poor, with multiple zones in the 'very poor' range as smog blankets the capital and readings swing across the day.
Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the 'poor' category this morning, with several pockets recording higher readings. The overall AQI stood at 271 as the day began, while specific zones hit sharper numbers: Jahangirpuri 284, ITO 295, and Mundka 305, the latter flagged as 'very poor.' Rohini logged 296 and Narela 302. In the wider NCR, Noida’s Sector 62 was 215 at 5 am and Ghaziabad’s Sanjay Nagar 265. Across 38 monitoring stations, CPCB data showed 28 reporting 'very poor' air quality.
Earlier in the day, the 24-hour average AQI rose to 202 by 4 pm, a notable improvement from 291 the previous day, and the 7 pm figure slipped to 197, in the 'moderate' range. Readings earlier in the day included 221 at 10 am and 215 at 11 am, indicating a steady improvement through the day. By Tuesday the city was at 291 and Monday at 309, according to CPCB as pollutant levels began to fall: PM10 cooled to 175.2 µg/m3 from 260, and PM2.5 fell to 85.5 from 128.2 the day before.
Delhi hasn’t recorded 'good' air since September 2023, when a combination of rainfall and stronger winds cleared pollutants. The ongoing readings underscore the challenges across the Indo-Gangetic Plain and NCR, as authorities weigh stronger measures to curb emissions and protect public health.
Cover image source: As Delhi breathes ‘poor’ air, China offers help to tackle pollution crisis 🔗
