As the winter chill approaches, Delhi’s air quality is once again becoming a significant concern. On Monday, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 189 at 4 PM, an increase from the 167 reported the previous day. This AQI level falls into the ‘moderate’ category, signaling a decline in air purity.
Neighboring regions also experienced similar air quality conditions. Gurugram recorded an AQI of 191, Greater Noida at 180, and Faridabad at 117, all in the ‘moderate’ range. Ghaziabad, however, crossed into the ‘poor’ category with an AQI of 204.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI levels as follows: 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.
Specific monitoring stations within Delhi also showed varying results, with Anand Vihar reaching 374 (‘poor’), ITO at 196 (‘moderate’), Okhla Phase 2 at 183 (‘moderate’), and R K Puram at 201 (‘poor’). Dwarka Sector 8’s AQI was also monitored. The overall AQI for Delhi was reported at 199.
Despite the current air quality dip, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted mainly clear skies for Tuesday in the capital.