Delhi’s AQI ‘Very Poor’ for 4th day in a row, to be ‘severe’ on Diwali weekend

Shortly after registering the cleanest October average in eight years, the air quality in Delhi has deteriorated once again. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘Very Poor’ category for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with the index settling at 369.

Neighboring cities in the NCR registered comparable levels, with Gurugram standing at 339 and Noida at 283, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The situation is likely to worsen in the coming days, with forecasts of ‘Severe’ AQI from Friday to Sunday.

The outlook for the subsequent 6 Days: The air quality is likely to be in the Severe to Very Poor category,” read a bulletin by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). Pollution levels remained on the higher side despite fewer stubble-burning incidents recorded across states like Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

According to data from the IITM’s Decision Support System, high baseline emissions stemming from road and construction dust, alongside vehicular, residential and industrial pollution continue to drive the surge. Adverse weather conditions, such as lower temperatures and reduced wind speeds, is said to be aggravating the situation by trapping pollutants.