Delhi chokes on toxic air as very poor AQI stretches into 3rd day

Delhi's overall air quality remained in the 'very poor' category for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, November 4, with the national capital recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 369 at 6.05 am. A thick layer of smog continued to blanket the city.

PM2.5 was the prominent pollutant in Delhi. Air quality was particularly concerning in several parts of the city, with Punjabi Bagh and Jahangirpuri both recording an AQI of 447, placing them in the 'severe' category.

Meanwhile, Mundka and the area around IIT Delhi recorded AQI readings of 436 and 438, respectively. Of Delhi's 59 air quality monitoring stations, 20 recorded 'severe' air quality, while 33 others were in the 'very poor' category. The remaining stations reported 'poor' air quality.

This could mark a further deterioration in Delhi's air quality for the third straight day since Monday, November 2, when the city was brought under Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as its 24-hoir average AQI settled at 324, placing it in the 'very poor' category for the first time this season.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi forecast that the city's air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category till at least Friday, November 6.