Delhi Air Quality Drops to 332 as Jahangirpuri Hits Severe Level of 452

Delhi's air quality slipped deeper into the 'very poor' category on Tuesday morning with an overall Air Quality Index of 332, while Jahangirpuri recorded the capital's worst pollution levels with a 'severe' reading of 452, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The sharp deterioration followed Monday's initial drop, when the city logged its first 'very poor' air quality day of the season with an AQI of 324. By Tuesday morning, a thick blanket of smog engulfed the national capital as conditions deteriorated.

Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board showed that eight of Delhi's 57 monitoring stations were operating in the 'severe' zone at 9 am. Another 32 stations logged 'very poor' air quality, while 15 stations fell into the 'poor' category and two recorded 'moderate' readings.

Jahangirpuri's AQI crossed 452, making it the most polluted locality monitored in the city. Under the CPCB classification system, an index value between zero and 50 is rated good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe.

Weather monitoring stations across the capital also recorded above-average minimum temperatures alongside the smog. Delhi's primary weather station at Safdarjung registered a minimum temperature of 16.4 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees above the seasonal benchmark.

Among other locations, Lodhi Road recorded a minimum of 16.2 degrees Celsius, which stood 3.2 degrees above normal, while Palam logged 16.2 degrees Celsius with no departure from the seasonal average. The Ridge station noted a low of 17.7 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees above normal, and Ayanagar recorded 17.2 degrees Celsius, one degree above the seasonal norm.

The India Meteorological Department forecast a mainly clear sky for the remainder of Tuesday, with the maximum temperature expected to settle around 29 degrees Celsius.