Delhi air quality enters very poor category for first time this season
The air quality index reached 307 on Monday as pollution levels rose following recent rainfall.
Delhi's air quality fell into the very poor category for the first time this season on Monday, according to a report by Hindustan Times. A thick haze covered the national capital as pollution levels increased after rain provided a brief respite last week.
The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 307 at 7.05 am on Monday. This follows a 24-hour average AQI of 261 on Sunday, which was a decline from the moderate level of 117 recorded the previous day.
Out of 58 monitoring stations providing data, 36 recorded very poor air quality. Jahangirpuri was the only station in the severe category with an AQI of 417. At 6 am on Monday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified PM2.5 as the main pollutant at 51 stations.
Meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya stated on X that the smog season has started and warned that pollution levels could worsen in the coming days. He noted that winds are flowing from the north west under calm conditions, which may cause emissions to persist in the atmosphere.
Dahiya added that no favourable weather conditions are expected over the next seven to 10 days, suggesting smog will increase across Delhi-NCR and the northern plains. This rise in pollution occurs one week before Diwali.