Delhi’s air pollution remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Thursday morning, with the city recording an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 321 even as thick smog reduced visibility across several areas. CPCB data recorded at 7am showed NSUT Jaffarpur had the highest reading among monitoring stations at 399, just below the ‘severe’ category.
Chandni Chowk recorded an AQI of 387, followed by Pusa (IITM) at 386, NSIT Dwarka at 383 and JNU at 378. Punjabi Bagh recorded 371, while Chhawla and CRRI Mathura Road reported AQI levels of 368 and 365 respectively. PM10 and PM2.5 remained the major pollutants across the national capital, according to the report.
Other high readings included Aya Nagar at 363, Talkatora Garden at 362, Commonwealth Sports Complex at 352 and Sirifort at 347. Ghummanhera recorded 331, while Tikri Kalan, Shadipur, Burari, Uttam Nagar and Jharoda Kalan recorded AQI levels of 320, 316, 314, 309 and 304 respectively.
The city’s air quality improved marginally from the more hazardous conditions recorded earlier in the week, but remained well within the ‘very poor’ band. Karala recorded an AQI of 256, while Maidan Garhi, Mandir Marg and Pusa (DPCC) reported readings of 289, 289 and 269. No readings were available for Lodhi Road and Badarpur in the data cited in the report.
Delhi’s pollution deteriorated after Diwali celebrations on November 8, when several monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400 in the ‘severe’ category. Falling temperatures, moderate fog and the resulting concentration of particulate matter have compounded the city’s air-quality conditions, while early-morning smog has affected visibility in multiple locations.
The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan across Delhi-NCR on November 6, three days before Diwali. The emergency framework covers Delhi and adjoining districts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, with restrictions becoming progressively stricter as pollution levels worsen.
Stage III measures continue existing restrictions while adding further pollution-control measures, increased enforcement and directions to agencies to prevent further deterioration. The framework is managed by CAQM in coordination with the Central Pollution Control Board and regional state governments, using pollution and meteorological forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
The Delhi government has also been deploying water sprinklers across the state as part of efforts to reduce the impact of particulate matter. On Wednesday, CAQM’s Member Secretary and Members (Technical) met a delegation from the Aam Aadmi Party at the commission’s office to hear its concerns and grievances regarding air pollution in Delhi.
Under CPCB’s classification, AQI levels from 301 to 400 are categorised as ‘very poor’, while readings from 401 to 500 fall in the ‘severe’ category. The latest readings leave several neighbourhoods close to the higher band, with Jaffarpur recording the city’s highest reported AQI on Thursday morning.
