Delhi’s air quality deteriorated further on Sunday, with weak winds trapping pollutants and pushing the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) to 366—classified as “very poor,” according to Centre Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Three monitoring stations recorded readings above 400, falling into the “severe” category.
The PM2.5 concentration was measured at 189.6 µg/m³, and PM10 at 316 µg/m³. PM2.5 consists of fine particles 2.5 micrometres or smaller, while PM10 includes particles up to 10 micrometres. At these levels, the pollutants can cause breathing discomfort, particularly for those with respiratory or cardiac conditions, as well as children and the elderly.
The overall AQI rose sharply from 303 recorded a day earlier, CPCB data showed.
Neighbouring cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) also reported “very poor” air quality — Ghaziabad (351), Gurugram (357), Noida (348) and Greater Noida (340). Faridabad, however, recorded a “poor” AQI of 215.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi, the wind speed dropped below 8 kmph from the northwest direction during the evening and night hours, reducing the dispersion of pollutants.
It added that a ventilation index lower than 6,000 m ²/s and wind speeds less than 10 kmph are unfavourable for pollutant dispersal.
The air quality is likely to remain in the “very poor” category till November 4, the AQEWS said.
Three monitoring stations in the city recorded “severe” air quality with readings above 400, with Wazirpur reporting the highest level at 413.
Another 28 stations registered “very poor” air quality with readings above 300, as per CPCB’s Sameer app.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor” and 401-500 “severe”, according to CPCB standards.
The maximum temperature was recorded at 30.7 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees below the seasonal average, while the minimum settled at 16.8 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The humidity stood at 75 per cent at 5.30 PM.
The weather office has forecast shallow fog on Monday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 30 and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively.
A ban on the entry of commercial goods vehicles not registered here and not compliant with BS-III or lower emission standards came into force in the national capital on November 1.
Source: Shafaqna India