New Delhi, Nov 8 — Delhi recorded the worst air quality in the country on Friday, with the city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 322, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital overtook all other cities in pollution levels, followed closely by Ghaziabad (314) and Noida (306).
Data from the CPCB’s Sameer app revealed that 29 out of 38 monitoring stations in Delhi reported ‘very poor’ air, with PM2.5 emerging as the dominant pollutant. The city’s air quality worsened compared to the previous day, when it had ranked fifth nationwide.
The Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality forecast indicated that stubble burning contributed 8.6% to Delhi’s pollution on Friday, with the share projected to rise sharply to 30.9% on Saturday and 31.2% on Sunday. Satellite data recorded 351 stubble-burning cases in Punjab, 35 in Haryana, and 200 in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
Besides stubble smoke, vehicular emissions are expected to account for 15% of PM2.5 levels on Saturday and 14% on Sunday. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi predicted that pollution levels will remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the coming days.
Meanwhile, Delhi also witnessed its coldest night of the season, with the mercury dipping to 12.7°C the same as Thursday. The maximum temperature was recorded at 28.6°C, 0.9 degrees below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD forecast shallow fog for Saturday, with temperatures likely to range between 12°C and 32°C.
Despite the falling temperatures, Delhiites continue to battle smog-filled skies as winter sets in an annual reminder of the capital’s worsening pollution crisis.