Residents of the national capital woke up to another day of unhealthy air and chilly winds on Sunday, as Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) remained firmly in the 'poor' category. The morning reading, recorded at 7 am by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), stood at 298, signalling breathing discomfort for people exposed for prolonged periods.
Key Areas Plunge into 'Very Poor' Zone
While the city's average was 'poor', the situation was significantly worse in several neighbourhoods. Multiple monitoring stations across Delhi reported air quality slipping into the 'very poor' range. Anand Vihar recorded a concerning AQI of 350, closely followed by Rohini at 361 and Chandni Chowk at 355. Other areas like Mundka (329) and R.K. Puram (322) also reported very poor air. ITO registered an AQI of 309. In contrast, air was relatively better at NSIT Dwarka and the Indira Gandhi International Airport, both recording a 'moderate' AQI of 177.
Weather Conditions and Forecast Point to Further Deterioration
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a minimum temperature of around 9 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning, with shallow fog in the early hours. Visibility was notably poor, with Safdarjung recording 800 metres and Palam 1,100 metres. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for the day, warning of moderate to dense fog in isolated pockets. This poor visibility severely impacted flight operations on Saturday, leading to the cancellation of 34 arrivals and 38 departures.
More worryingly, the forecast for air quality is grim. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology's Early Warning System (EWS) predicts that Delhi's air is likely to worsen to the 'very poor' category within the next 24 hours and may persist at these hazardous levels for the subsequent six days. Wind conditions are expected to remain light during mornings and nights, with speeds picking up to below 15 kmph from the northwest in the afternoons, offering little respite for pollutant dispersion.
Authorities Urge Compliance as GRAP Stage-III Lifted
On the regulatory front, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked the Stage-III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Friday evening. This decision followed inspections in Nuh, Haryana, where five construction sites and 100 industrial units were found compliant with norms. However, authorities have stressed that Stage I and II GRAP guidelines must be strictly followed by citizens to prevent further degradation. Closure orders for violators remain active unless explicitly revoked by the Commission.
The city's air has shown a clear trend of gradual deterioration. On Saturday, the AQI rose from 254 at noon to 267 by 4 pm, a noticeable increase from the 236 recorded at the same time the previous day. With temperatures expected to dip further—with a minimum likely between 7°C and 8°C—and adverse meteorological conditions, Delhi braces for a challenging week ahead on the air quality front.
