Air quality in Delhi has deteriorated significantly, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 331 on Tuesday morning, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. This marks an increase from the previous 24-hour average AQI of 324 recorded on Monday, which was the worst air quality the capital has experienced in 271 days.
A thick haze enveloped the city as pollution levels spiked, especially in eight areas where the air quality was classified as ‘severe’. Locations such as Bawana, Narela, and Punjabi Bagh were among the most affected. In contrast, the air quality monitoring station at IGNOU in Maidangarhi reported moderate pollution levels.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) attributed the primary pollutant in most areas to PM2.5, while a few locations recorded PM10 as the main pollutant. The worsening air quality is compounded by farm fires in nearby states, with satellite data showing 1,561 incidents between October 1 and November 2. Punjab accounted for 1,406 of these fires, while Haryana reported 155.
In response to the declining air quality, authorities have activated Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. This includes measures such as staggering office hours for government and municipal employees and increasing parking fees to discourage the use of private vehicles. Resident welfare associations have also been asked to provide electric heaters to security personnel to avoid open burning for warmth.