Delhi’s air quality remained in the very poor category ahead of Diwali, with the Delhi AQI forecast to cross 400 and enter the severe category on Sunday and Monday, according to the city’s air quality early warning system.
The city recorded an average AQI of 381 on Friday, which improved slightly to 369 on Saturday. Despite that marginal improvement, pollution monitoring stations continued to report unhealthy conditions across the capital. Of the monitored locations, 16 recorded severe air quality and 29 reported very poor air quality on Saturday.
The worst reading was recorded in the IIT Delhi area, where the AQI reached 452. Particulate matter PM10 was identified as the primary pollutant in the atmosphere during the period. The readings show that the citywide average did not fully reflect the sharper deterioration recorded in some local areas.
Transport was the largest identified contributor to Delhi’s pollution on Saturday, accounting for 21.4 percent of the city’s emissions, according to data from the Decision Support System. The contribution from stubble burning was recorded at 1.7 percent. Traffic congestion on roads was also reported to be increasing vehicle emissions in several parts of the city.
Weather conditions are expected to make pollutant dispersion more difficult. The India Meteorological Department forecast light fog in many parts of Delhi on Saturday morning, followed by sunshine later in the day. Similar conditions are expected over the next two days. Falling temperatures and slow wind speeds can allow pollutants to remain concentrated near the ground, according to the report.
The forecast comes as Diwali-related emissions are expected to add pressure to an already polluted atmosphere. The report said the combined effect of vehicle emissions, firecrackers, low temperatures, slow winds and crop-residue burning in neighbouring states could keep air quality at concerning levels in the coming days.
The city’s pollution burden also varies considerably between monitoring locations. While the average AQI remained below 400 on Saturday, the IIT Delhi reading had already crossed the severe threshold, indicating that residents’ exposure can differ substantially depending on neighbourhood conditions, traffic intensity and local pollutant accumulation.
After the next two days, the weather department has forecast the influence of a fresh western disturbance, which may bring morning fog and partly cloudy skies. The Delhi air quality early warning system’s forecast for Sunday and Monday remains the immediate milestone for determining whether the city’s average AQI crosses 400 and moves into the severe category.
