Delhi wakes to another smoggy morning, AQI at 373; NCR cities also choke

A thick layer of smog enveloped Delhi on Wednesday morning, with the city's air quality deteriorating further. The city-level Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 373 at 7 am from 331 on Tuesday, remaining in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB's) real-time data.

Both PM2.5 and PM10 were identified as prominent pollutants. The deterioration was widespread across the capital. All 59 reporting air quality monitoring stations recorded readings above 200, while 54 registered AQI levels above 300. As many as 21 locations crossed the 400 mark, entering the ‘severe’ category.

Punjabi Bagh recorded the highest AQI at 452, followed by Jahangirpuri at 450 and IIT Delhi at 446. Mundka registered 440, Rohini 435, Delhi Technological University 434 and Vivek Vihar 432. Pusa and R K Puram recorded readings of 429 and 423, respectively. Even locations with relatively lower readings were reporting poor air quality.

IGNOU-Maidan Garhi recorded the lowest AQI among the reporting stations at 257, followed by the IMD station at Lodhi Road at 294. The deterioration extended across the National Capital Region (NCR), although pollution levels varied considerably between cities.