Delhi’s Air Quality Improves After 24 Days of Severe Pollution (Source: ANI)
Delhi’s air quality improved on Sunday morning, moving into the “poor” category with an AQI of 270 at 6:00 AM, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is a clear improvement from Saturday’s AQI of 305 and marks the first major drop in pollution in 24 days. The improvement also goes against predictions by the Air Quality Early Warning System, which had warned that the air would stay “very poor” for the week.
A thick layer of toxic smog continued to blanket Delhi on Sunday morning, as visuals from the ITO area showed the city shrouded in haze. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the area stood at 269, placing it in the ‘Poor’ category.
In the past week, Delhi recorded high pollution levels: 369 on Friday, 377 on Thursday, 327 on Wednesday, 352 on Tuesday, and 382 on Monday. On Sunday, only five out of 38 monitoring stations Dilshad Garden, Jahangirpuri, Nehru Nagar, RK Puram, and Shadipur reported “very poor” air. Mandir Marg recorded the best air quality, with a “moderate” AQI of 157, as per CPCB’s Sameer app. Officials said favourable wind conditions and reduced stubble burning in nearby states played a major role in the improved air quality.
Despite the improvement, weather experts say pollution levels may rise again. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) at Skymet Weather, said the air quality is expected to stay in the “very poor” range in the coming days. He added that stronger winds may stop the AQI from slipping into the “severe” category.
According to the Decision Support System of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, vehicular emissions contributed 18.7% to Delhi’s pollution on Saturday, and are expected to contribute 18.6% on Sunday. Earlier this week, the government withdrew GRAP Stage 3 restrictions but continued Stage 2 measures as the “very poor” category persisted.
Residents woke up to shallow fog on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a temperature of 12°C at 7:00 AM and predicted a partly cloudy sky for the day. IMD said the minimum temperature will likely stay between 8°C and 10°C, while the maximum temperature may remain between 23°C and 25°C.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday assured that the government continues to monitor pollution levels daily. She said, "The government is monitoring the situation daily and taking appropriate steps regularly to curb pollution. The steps we take today will give results in the future," according to ANI.
Delhi has its coldest November in five years, with the average minimum temperature 11.5°C, IMD report. Daytime temperatures also stayed lower than last year. In the last consecutive four years, the average minimum temperatures were:
11.9°C in 2021
14.7°C in 2024
12°C in 2023
12.3°C in 2022
This November remained completely dry, with the city recording no rainfall at all.
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