With winter’s arrival imminent, Delhi is seeing a worrying uptick in its air pollution levels. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 189 on Monday afternoon, up from 167 the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This figure classifies Delhi’s air quality as ‘moderate’, signaling a worsening trend that residents have come to expect during colder months.
Surrounding urban centers are also grappling with reduced air quality. Gurugram’s AQI was recorded at 191, Greater Noida at 180, and Faridabad at 117, all falling within the ‘moderate’ classification. Ghaziabad’s air quality, however, dipped into the ‘poor’ category with an AQI of 204.
The standard AQI categories are: 0-50 (‘good’), 51-100 (‘satisfactory’), 101-200 (‘moderate’), 201-300 (‘poor’), 301-400 (‘very poor’), and 401-500 (‘severe’).
Data from various Delhi locations indicated particular pollution hotspots. Anand Vihar registered a high of 374 (‘poor’), while ITO was at 196 (‘moderate’). Okhla Phase 2 reported 183 (‘moderate’) and R K Puram reached 201 (‘poor’). The comprehensive AQI for Delhi was noted at 199.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast a predominantly clear sky for Tuesday in the national capital, though the underlying air quality concerns persist.