Delhi continues to battle hazardous air conditions as its Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday. At 6 am, the national capital recorded an average AQI of 341, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Although this marks a slight improvement from Monday’s reading of 359 and Sunday’s 377, experts warn that pollution levels still pose severe health risks across Delhi and the NCR region.
The marginal improvement is attributed to stronger surface winds, which reached nearly 15 kmph on Sunday. Despite this temporary relief, several pockets within the region recorded alarming numbers. Wazirpur logged an AQI of 410, Bawana 419, and Jahangirpuri 414 — all falling under the ‘severe’ category. Weather conditions also indicate an early onset of winter, with Delhi registering a minimum temperature of 8.7°C on Monday, four degrees below normal and the lowest November temperature since 2022.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Early Warning System predicted no significant relief and warned that AQI levels may revert to ‘severe’ by Wednesday. Currently, Stage 3 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) have been active since November 11 when the AQI touched 428.
In contrast, Ghaziabad ranked as the most polluted city in the country on Monday, becoming the only city listed in the ‘severe’ category with an AQI of 401. Areas like Loni and Sanjay Nagar recorded even higher levels at 414 and 433 respectively.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court refused to impose blanket restrictions such as a complete construction shutdown or vehicular ban, stating that livelihoods must not be jeopardized while addressing pollution.
