Delhi's AQI hits 421 as air turns severe amid data gaps
Delhi's AQI hits 421 as air turns severe amid data gaps
Delhi battles severe air quality (AQI 421) with 34 of 39 stations in the high range, as data gaps hinder monitoring and Grap Stage-3 measures loom.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the 'severe' category for the first time this season, with a 24-hour rolling AQI of 421 at 7am, the highest so far this year. Visibility in the morning dropped to about 1,000 metres and improved later, but pollutants remained stubbornly high.
Earlier on Monday, the average AQI stood at 362 (very poor) by 4pm, and Sunday was 370. Hotspots showed extreme readings: Bawana 462, Wazirpur 460, Mundka 452, Punjabi Bagh 452, underscoring the geographic spread of the pollution load. The drop in wind speed and stagnant temperatures have prevented pollutants from dispersing, fueling the anomaly.
A daylong data gap complicates the picture: pollution data went missing for around 10 hours, delaying the day’s national bulletin until after 11pm. By midnight, AQI had crossed 400. These conditions have brought Grap Stage-3 measures into focus as officials prepare to act on the worsening air.
The Commission for Air Quality Management was set to meet to discuss the next steps, as authorities seek to shield health and livelihoods from the toxic haze. Citizens faced health concerns, with health advisories urging caution in affected districts and during peak hours.
Cover image source: Watch: People in Delhi fret over health issues in ‘Very Poor’ AQI 🔗
