Delhi air quality deteriorated to the upper end of the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday, with the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 376 and authorities warning that conditions could move into the ‘severe’ category after Diwali celebrations.
The deterioration was recorded amid a thick layer of smog and low visibility across the national capital. According to the report, the city’s average AQI rose from 369 on Saturday to 376 on Sunday, bringing it close to the severe threshold of 400 under Central Pollution Control Board classifications.
The impact was more serious at several monitoring locations. Of Delhi’s 59 air-quality monitoring stations, 12 recorded AQI levels in the severe category on Sunday, while 22 stations reported very poor air. Jahangirpuri recorded the highest AQI at 463, placing it firmly in the severe category.
The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi indicated that the city’s air could remain in the severe category for several days from November 9. The forecast came as Diwali celebrations were expected to add to emissions already arising from road traffic, crop-residue burning in neighbouring states and unfavourable weather conditions that can restrict the dispersal of pollutants.
The city’s pollution profile also showed the importance of everyday urban mobility. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, was identified as the main pollutant on Sunday. Delhi’s Decision Support System estimated that transport would be the largest contributor to the city’s pollution that day, accounting for 19 per cent. The estimated contribution from crop-residue burning was 3.5 per cent on Sunday and was expected to decline to 2.99 per cent on Monday.
These figures place road transport at the centre of the immediate pollution response, even as seasonal sources continue to influence Delhi’s air. The data also shows that the citywide average does not capture the full variation experienced by residents: while the overall AQI stood at 376, some monitoring stations had already crossed 400.
Under CPCB standards, AQI readings from zero to 50 are classified as good, 51 to 100 as satisfactory, 101 to 200 as moderate, 201 to 300 as poor, 301 to 400 as very poor and 401 to 500 as severe. Delhi’s Sunday average therefore remained just below the severe band, while Jahangirpuri and other locations had already entered it.
The worsening air has direct implications for people travelling through the city, especially as reduced visibility and high PM2.5 levels affect outdoor conditions. The report attributed the expected deterioration to Diwali-related emissions, vehicle pollution, crop burning and adverse weather. The Air Quality Early Warning System’s forecast for the coming days will determine how long the city remains under severe pollution conditions.
