Delhi's AQI remains 'very poor' at 372; 13 areas in national capital exposed to 'severe' air

Delhi’s air quality remained mired in the ‘very poor’ zone on Friday, with 13 locations in the capital recording pollution levels in the ‘severe’ bracket as of 7:05AM, according to data from the government’s SAMEER air-quality monitoring platform.

The city recorded an average AQI of 372 on Friday morning, as neighbourhoods including RK Puram, Nehru Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Rohini and Vivek Vihar crossed the 400-mark, indicating hazardous conditions for residents.

Friday’s readings came on the heels of an already alarming trend.

Delhi chokes amid hovering 'severe' air

On Thursday, Delhi’s overall average AQI stood at 391, hovering just below the ‘severe’ threshold for the seventh day in a row, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). More than 15 monitoring stations logged AQI levels above 400, reflecting dangerously high levels of pollutants across the capital.

Data shows the city’s air has been consistently worsening through the week, with the average AQI recorded at 392 on Wednesday, 374 on Tuesday and 351 on Monday.

Weather and pollution outlooks indicate that respite is unlikely anytime soon. The Air Quality Early Warning System of the Ministry of Earth Sciences has forecast that Delhi’s air is likely to deteriorate further, potentially slipping deeper into the ‘severe’ range, and remaining between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ for the next six days.

Delhi AQI: Will weather bring respite?

The SAMEER app on Thursday showed that 18 of Delhi’s 38 operational monitoring stations registered readings in the ‘severe’ bracket. Locations such as Chandni Chowk, Anand Vihar, Bawana, Mundka, Narela, Wazirpur and DTU were among those with pollution levels above 400.

Pollution source analysis from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System shows that vehicular emissions have been a major contributor to the city’s toxic air, accounting for 17.3% of particulate matter on Thursday. Farm fires, though significantly lower this season compared to previous years, still played a role, contributing 2.8% to Thursday’s pollution load. For Friday, these shares are projected to be 16.2% and 1.8%, respectively.

Satellite observations on Wednesday detected 16 farm fires in Punjab, 11 in Haryana and 115 in Uttar Pradesh, indicating a continued, though diminished, influence of stubble burning in the region’s air mix.

Weather conditions remain cool and slightly foggy. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4°C, nearly a degree below normal, while the maximum settled at 28.2°C, marginally above seasonal average. The IMD has forecast moderate fog for Friday, with temperatures expected to hover around 27°C during the day and 12°C at night.