On Sunday, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 366, placing its air quality in the ‘Very Poor’ bracket and marking the season’s worst level so far. Forecasts now suggest that the situation could turn ‘Severe’ by Tuesday, signaling the start of the capital’s most polluted period and threatening public health.
How Bad is the Air Right Now and Where?
While the city’s average AQI was 366, this number hides a more dangerous reality brewing in several neighbourhoods. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that at least five individual monitoring stations have already entered the ‘Severe’ zone (AQI above 400). Burari (404), Chandni Chowk (404), RK Puram (401), Vivek Vihar (402), and Wazirpur (418) are among these places. With 30 other stations recording ‘Very Poor’ air, the entire city is grappling with a severe public health crisis, marking the most toxic air Delhi has witnessed since December of last year.
What is the Official Forecast for the Coming Days?
The situation is expected to worsen before it improves. According to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS), Delhi’s air is predicted to remain in the ‘Very Poor’ category until Monday. A significant deterioration is forecast for Tuesday, when the city’s average air quality is “very likely” to plunge into the ‘Severe’ category. A slight respite is only expected by Wednesday, when the AQI is predicted to move back to the ‘Very Poor’ range. This pattern confirms historical data showing that early November is consistently the most polluted period in the capital.
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What is Causing This Sharp Deterioration?
Unfavorable weather is the main factor, according to meteorologists. Vice President of Skymet Weather Mahesh Palawat claims that the city has progressively accumulated pollutants as a result of gentle breezes that have impeded their dispersal. Although there was some relief on Sunday due to a little rise in wind speed, the overall weather is still not good. Despite a western disturbance affecting the region, no rain is forecast for the capital, which is the most effective natural cleanser for polluted air.
What are the Major Sources of Pollution Right Now?
Contrary to previous years, the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s PM2.5 levels was relatively low at 3.5% on Sunday. Data from the Decision Support System (DSS) identified local sources as the main drivers of the current crisis. Delhi’s transportation sector contributed the most (18.13%), followed by the city’s own residential sector (4.5%) and pollution from adjacent industrial districts like Jhajjar (11.2%). Significantly, unaccounted-for sources from outside Delhi were responsible for 36.8% of the pollution, underscoring the intricate, multi-source character of the capital’s air pollution issue.
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