Delhi’s air quality worsened sharply on Thursday as the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 400, placing it in the ‘severe’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A thick layer of smog continued to cover the city because slow wind and dropping temperatures prevented pollutants from clearing. This rise came just a day after Wednesday’s alarming AQI of 392, which had kept Delhi close to the severe mark for the sixth straight day.
Pollution Hotspots Record Extremely High Levels
Several pollution-monitoring stations across the city reported AQI levels above 400. The CPCB’s Sameer app listed Wazirpur as the most polluted area with an AQI of 477. Other hotspots included Anand Vihar (427), RK Puram (424), Punjabi Bagh (441), Mundka (441), Jahangirpuri (453), Burari Crossing (410) and Bawana (443). Lodhi Road recorded the lowest AQI among 39 stations at 269, which still falls in the ‘poor’ category. According to CPCB, AQI between 301–400 is considered ‘very poor’, while 401–500 falls under the ‘severe’ category.
Forecast Warns of Continued Pollution
The Air Quality Early Warning System of the Ministry of Earth Sciences had already warned that Delhi’s air quality would stay in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ range for at least the next six days. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, estimated that on Wednesday, vehicle emissions contributed 18% to Delhi’s pollution and stubble burning contributed 3.8%. For Thursday, these contributions were predicted to be 16.1% and 2% respectively. Satellite reports detected 15 farm fires in Punjab, six in Haryana and 377 in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.
Temperature and Weather Update
The India Meteorological Department recorded a minimum temperature of 10.2°C and a maximum of 28.3°C on Wednesday. The agency also said moderate fog is likely, with Thursday’s temperatures expected to stay around 27°C during the day and 11°C at night.
