Delhi air pollution entered the severe category on Diwali morning, with the AQI reaching 421 near AIIMS and approaching 400 around India Gate, as smoke, weak winds and seasonal emissions reduced air quality across the capital.
According to data cited from the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI near AIIMS was recorded at 421 at around 7 am on Sunday. The reading falls in the severe category under CPCB’s classification. The India Gate area recorded an AQI of 398, while the area around Akshardham temple recorded 344.
The deterioration followed a citywide average AQI of 369 on Saturday, compared with 382 on Friday. Although Saturday’s average showed a slight improvement, it remained close to the threshold for severe pollution. Of Delhi’s 59 pollution-monitoring stations, 16 recorded severe air quality on Saturday and 29 reported very poor conditions.
The highest reading reported on Saturday was 452 near the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Visibility was also reduced across the city as a layer of smog and haze covered the capital ahead of Diwali celebrations.
The report attributed the worsening conditions to a combination of Diwali-related emissions, vehicle pollution, stubble burning in neighbouring states and unfavourable weather conditions. These factors are occurring during a period when the atmosphere is less able to disperse pollutants, allowing emissions to accumulate close to the ground.
Data cited from Delhi’s air-quality early warning system indicated that the city could remain in the severe category on November 8 and 9. The forecast for the following six days placed air quality between the severe and very poor categories, with fluctuations expected during the period.
The warning system identified a ventilation index below 6,000 square metres per second and average wind speeds below 10 kilometres per hour as conditions that were restricting the effective dispersal of pollutants. Low wind movement can allow emissions from vehicles, fires and other urban sources to remain concentrated over the city.
Under CPCB standards, an AQI between zero and 50 is 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. The readings reported near AIIMS and IIT Delhi therefore placed those areas in the most serious category of the national scale.
The immediate trend will depend on the interaction between festival emissions, regional pollution sources and weather conditions. The early warning system’s forecast places Delhi’s air quality under continued pressure through the next several days.
