Air quality in the national capital worsened further on Tuesday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing to 267, placing it firmly in the ‘poor’ category, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
This marked a deterioration from Monday, when Delhi’s AQI stood at 206, also categorised as ‘poor’. Several parts of the city were shrouded in a visible layer of smog, triggering fresh concerns among residents, particularly those suffering from respiratory ailments.
CPCB monitoring stations recorded ‘very poor’ air quality in multiple hotspots across the city. Anand Vihar registered an AQI of 317, Bawana 333, Narela 344, Wazirpur 339, and Rohini 335. Other areas also reported alarming readings, including Chandni Chowk (280), Punjabi Bagh (277), ITO (277), RK Puram (296), and Dwarka Sector 8 (252). The Akshardham Temple area recorded an AQI of 317, falling into the ‘very poor’ category.
Central Delhi locations such as India Gate and Kartavya Path logged an AQI of 277, while the AIIMS area recorded 296. Relatively better air quality was observed in a few pockets, with Sri Aurobindo Marg reporting an AQI of 129. Lodhi Road (139), Major Dhyan Chand Stadium (144), Mandir Marg (148), IIT Delhi (149), Aya Nagar (165), and IGI Airport (177) also showed comparatively lower pollution levels.
Weather conditions continued to remain unfavourable for pollutant dispersion. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported the temperature in the capital at around 10.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning. Earlier in the week, Delhi witnessed misty conditions with humidity levels touching 97 per cent and calm winds at 0 km/h, further contributing to pollution build-up.
On the previous day, several areas such as Mundka (276), Shadipur (282), Nehru Nagar (269), Jahangirpuri (252), Ashok Vihar (243), and Pusa (227) had also recorded ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ air quality levels, CPCB data showed.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as pollution levels fluctuate amid stagnant weather conditions.
