Delhi's air quality index dips to 'very poor' category for first time this season

On Tuesday, Delhi had a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 303. On Wednesday morning, the air quality in Jantar Mantar was 222.28, placing it in the 'very unhealthy' category.

After maintaining 'poor' for six days in a row, the national capital's air quality hit the 'very poor' category for the first time this season on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Delhi had a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 303. On Wednesday morning, the air quality in Jantar Mantar was 222.28, placing it in the 'very unhealthy' category.  According to the Times of India report, Stubble burning accounted for 6% of PM2.5 pollution, with the remainder coming from local sources. However, SAFAR, an air quality forecasting body, stated that the AQI is projected to improve somewhat over the next two days owing to breezes from the west and south-west.

On Diwali night, Delhi predicted that PM2.5 and PM10 levels in the capital will exceed 250 and 398 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively. The report further added that the air quality is expected to deteriorate dramatically on November 5 and 6, reaching the top end of the extremely bad category. PM2.5 is expected to be the most prevalent pollutant, according to the report.

SAFAR reported 3,971 agricultural fires in Delhi's northwest area, the highest this season. According to the department's data, the percentage of agricultural residue burning emissions in PM2.5 is low due to poor transport winds. According to the Central Pollution Control Board figures, the capital has a 24-hour average air quality index of 281. Only 47 of 424 complaints were processed by authorities in Delhi and the NCR cities of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan between October 15 and October 30. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are limited at 60 and 100 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively.