Delhi Chokes: Smog Engulfs City As Air Quality Deteriorates To 'Poor' Category

Although winter has yet to fully set in, air quality in Delhi continues to worsen, moving from poor to very poor levels.

This morning, residents in the city woke up to hazy weather, with the latest data showing that Delhi's AQI was in the "poor" category on Monday. Forecasts indicate mainly clear skies, with a minimum temperature around 20°C.

Delhi's Weekly Weather Forecast

Over the next seven days, the forecast for Delhi predicts mainly clear skies. Temperatures will range between a maximum of 34°C to 36°C and a minimum of 18°C to 21°C.

Winds will shift between east-southeast, southeast, northeast, and northwest directions at speeds varying between 6 and 16 km/h. From October 22 to 26, calm or light winds will prevail in the early mornings, picking up slightly later in the day.

No major weather disruptions are expected during this period.

Delhi AQI on Sunday

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average AQI on Sunday was recorded at 277 by 4 pm. Out of 35 monitoring stations, 14 recorded air quality in the "very poor" category, up from 11 on Saturday.

Areas like Anand Vihar, Bawana, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Rohini, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, and Wazirpur were among the affected stations.

Contributors to Delhi's Air Pollution

Emissions from transportation contribute about 9.69% to Delhi's air pollution, according to the Centre's Decision Support System for Air Quality Management.

Additionally, 45 farm fires were reported in Punjab, 15 in Haryana, and 30 in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. A total of 2,733 farm fires were recorded between September 15 and October 19: 1,393 in Punjab, 642 in Haryana, 687 in Uttar Pradesh, and 11 in Delhi.

AQI Categories

• 0-50: Good
• 51-100: Satisfactory
• 101-200: Moderate
• 201-300: Poor
• 301-400: Very Poor
• 401-500: Severe

(With agency inputs)