Delhi AQI Reaches 196 as 22 Monitoring Stations Slip into Poor Category
Delhi's air quality deteriorated sharply on Sunday morning, with the citywide Air Quality Index touching 196 at 10:00 AM, marking the highest reading in over 82 days. The worsening conditions pushed 22 of the city's 43 active air quality monitoring stations into the 'poor' category, with localities such as Mundka, Jahangirpuri, Narela, and Okhla among the worst affected.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, Sunday's reading was the highest since July 13, when the AQI reached 246. Monitoring stations in western and northern pockets registered severe spikes, with Mundka logging an AQI of 282, followed by Narela at 262, Jahangirpuri at 248, and Okhla at 232. In contrast, the Delhi Cantonment area registered the lowest reading in the capital at 115.
Officials stated that a prolonged lack of rain, low wind speeds, and localized emissions were the primary drivers behind the mounting pollution levels. The capital had recorded an AQI of 166 on Thursday, 174 on Friday, and 171 on Saturday, with PM10 serving as the dominant pollutant keeping the index near the top end of the 'moderate' category.
Under CPCB standards, an AQI between zero and 50 is graded 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. Sunday's reading kept the citywide average at the verge of the 'poor' threshold while half the individual tracking centers crossed it.
Weather conditions are expected to offer little relief in the near term. The India Meteorological Department forecast indicated that Delhi is unlikely to see any rain over the coming week, predicting clear skies on Monday followed by partly cloudy conditions starting Tuesday. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 24.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with daytime maximums expected to range between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius.
Amateur meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya noted that October heat is beginning to take hold across the region, with maximum temperatures in parts of the National Capital Region and western Uttar Pradesh expected to touch 37 to 40 degrees Celsius. Dahiya stated that a series of mild western disturbances could begin on October 7, with moderate disturbances possible after October 10 that may bring rain to northern plains.
