Delhi's air quality declined again Tuesday, slipping into the ‘very poor’ category after a brief improvement earlier in the week. At 6 am, the Air Quality Index stood at 331, as per the Central Pollution Control Board, indicating a renewed rise in pollution levels across the city.
Several stations cross 350 mark
The AQI values were even higher in several other monitoring stations in Delhi: Bawana reporting 387, Anand Vihar 381, Wazirpur 362, Burari 361 and RK Puram 356-all falling squarely within the ‘very poor’ bracket.
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In comparison, IGI Airport showed relatively lower levels, but its AQI of 269 still placed it in the ‘poor’ category.
CPCB classifies AQI ranges as: 0–50 (good), 51–100 (satisfactory), 101–200 (moderate), 201–300 (poor), 301–400 (very poor) and 401–500 (severe).
Smog layer returns across major city spots
A thick layer of fog and smog engulfed several parts on Tuesday morning. The AQI at India Gate- Kartavya Path touched 370, indicating strong ‘very poor’ conditions. Similar visibility and pollution pattern was seen at MB Road, Tughlakabad where the AQI was recorded at 302.
As per a report by The Times of India, people were concerned about the increasing pollution and disruption of daily life. One resident shared, “The pollution has become extremely dangerous for both children and the elderly. Earlier, we used to come out at 5 am, but now we have to wait until 7 am. Our eyes burn, and we are constantly coughing. The government should take stronger action… Water sprinkling is insufficient, and vehicles are still running. More frequent sprinkling is urgently needed."
Brief improvement earlier in the week
Over the last two days, Delhi saw mild relief as the AQI was recorded at 279 on Sunday and 298 on Monday. However, the latest readings indicate a quick reversal of that short-lived improvement.
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Winter sets in with lower temperatures
The winters continue to intensify with increasing levels of pollution. According to the India Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature will be around 26°C, while the minimum will hover around 7°C on Tuesday, indicating a further dip as the season advances.
