Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category for the third consecutive day on Friday, with the Air Quality Index crossing 300 in Pusa and RK Puram as low wind speeds slowed the dispersal of pollutants across the National Capital Region.
According to Central Pollution Control Board data cited in the report, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 230 on Friday. Pusa registered an AQI of 319, while the reading in RK Puram reached 302 by Friday evening. An AQI above 300 falls in the ‘very poor’ category.
The report said Delhi-NCR recorded a PM2.5 concentration of 99.66 micrograms per cubic metre and a PM10 concentration of 223.07 micrograms per cubic metre. The health-based standards cited in the report place the acceptable levels for PM2.5 and PM10 below 60 and 100 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively.
The deterioration has been linked to weak wind movement and the onset of relatively mild winter conditions. When wind speeds remain low, particulate matter and other pollutants disperse more slowly, allowing concentrations to build up near the ground and increasing exposure for residents.
The regional pattern is visible in the station-level readings. While Delhi’s average AQI remained below 300, the significantly higher readings in Pusa and RK Puram indicate that pollution levels varied sharply across neighbourhoods. Both areas are part of the city’s official air-quality monitoring network and recorded conditions categorised as very poor.
The India Meteorological Department forecast that wind speeds could reach up to 20 kilometres per hour on Saturday. The report said stronger winds over the next two days may bring some improvement in air quality, although it did not indicate that pollution would return to the satisfactory or healthy range.
Weather conditions remained warmer than usual on Friday. Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 32.2 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature was 19 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees above normal. The forecast for Saturday places the maximum temperature between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius and the minimum between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.
The combination of pollution levels above cited standards, weak ventilation and significant variation between monitoring locations underlines the importance of neighbourhood-level air-quality information in Delhi. The next reported change in conditions will depend on wind movement and the resulting dispersion of pollutants over the coming two days.
