• Source:JND

Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi’s air quality has once again plunged into the ‘very poor’ category after a brief respite. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 332 on Friday afternoon, marking a significant decline from the previous days. This shift into hazardous air quality comes after two days of slight improvement, leaving residents with concerns about the ongoing pollution crisis.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the 24-hour average AQI for Delhi stood at 332 at 4 pm on Friday, a sharp rise from Thursday’s AQI of 234 and Wednesday’s 271. The AQI scale, which categorises pollution levels, places values from 301-400 in the ‘very poor’ range. In contrast, the 'poor' category spans 201-300.

In total, 38 out of 40 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi were operational, with 20 stations reporting very poor air quality. Among these, eight stations, including Anand Vihar, Bawana, DTU, Jahangirpuri, Narela, Nehru Nagar, Rohini, and Vivek Vihar, registered AQI levels above 400, signaling ‘severe’ pollution. This deterioration in air quality places Delhi's residents at significant health risk, with vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions particularly affected.

Earlier, the Commission for Air Quality Management ( CAQM) had removed GRAP Stage 4 restrictions from Delhi’s pollution management system after air quality dipped to poor category. Prior to this drop in AQI, there were hopes that the city's air quality would stabilis

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e. However, the increase in AQI levels has pushed Delhi back into a critical condition, despite the absence of Stage 4 restrictions.

According to the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51–100 satisfactory, 101–200 moderate, 201–300 poor, 301–400 very poor and 401–500 severe.

Data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management suggests that vehicular emissions are the largest contributor to Delhi’s air pollution, accounting for nearly 19.7 per cent of the total pollution load. Industrial emissions from Delhi and nearby regions contribute 10.1 per cent , while residential sources add another 4.9 per cent .

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Among the districts surrounding Delhi, Haryana’s Jhajjar district stands out, contributing the most significant share 20 per cent of Delhi’s pollution. Other NCR districts, including Sonipat, Panipat, Gurugram, and Rohtak, are also contributing substantial amounts to the city’s declining air quality.

The Air Quality Early Warning System has indicated that Delhi’s air quality will likely remain in the very poor category for the next six days, putting the health of millions at risk.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts chilly weather, with temperatures expected to range from a high of 22 degrees C to a low of 7 degrees C on Saturday. Dense fog is expected to persist over the coming days, further worsening the pollution situation and reducing visibility, particularly during early mornings and late evenings.


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