Delhi Air Quality update: BIG relief for Delhiites as air quality improves to ‘poor’ after 24 days, average AQI stands at…

Delhi Air Quality update: In a literal sigh of relief for Delhi residents, the air quality in the national capital improved to the ‘poor’ category on Sunday, after staying in the ‘very poor’ bracket for 24 days, often bordering near the ‘severe zone’.

Delhi air quality improves after 24 days

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI at 4 PM stood at 279, 24 days after the city last recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ‘poor’ category on November 5, when the readings showed 202.

In recent days, Delhi recorded an AQI of 305 on Saturday, 369 on Friday, 377 on Thursday, 327 on Wednesday, 352 on Tuesday, and 382 on Monday.

Data from CPCB’s Sameer app showed that no operational monitoring station in Delhi recorded ‘severe’ air quality on Sunday, similar to Saturday, while eight stations had logged AQI in the ‘severe’ category on Friday.

How Delhi’s AQI fared in November?

As per the CPCB, the average AQI in Delhi for November was 357 — in the ‘very poor’ range but lower than the previous two years, 374 in 2024, and 366 in 2023.  The capital city did not record a single ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’, or ‘moderate’ air quality day in November, while there were three ‘poor’ AQI days, 24 ‘very poor’ days, and three ‘severe’ days, the data showed.

Meanwhile, Delhi air quality is expected to hover in the same range over the next few days, and AQI is unlikely to slip into the ‘severe’ category for at least the next two days, Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) at Skymet Weather, said.

According to the Decision Support System of the India(BHARAT)n Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, estimated that vehicular emissions contributed 18.6 per cent to Delhi’s pollution on Sunday, which is projected to be around 18.1 per cent on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies)