NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Air pollution levels in the national capital deteriorated on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 303 and placing Delhi in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The decline comes amid continuing pollution concerns following Diwali, with emissions from firecrackers and agricultural residue burning in neighbouring states adding to the city’s pollution burden.
Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday, indicating a further deterioration within a day. The latest reading highlights the persistent challenge of controlling pollution in the capital as winter approaches and weather conditions become less favourable for the dispersal of pollutants.
Under the CPCB’s classification system, an AQI reading of 0–50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’ and 401–500 ‘severe’.
An AQI of 303 places Delhi just above the threshold for the very poor category. Prolonged exposure to such pollution levels can cause respiratory discomfort, particularly among children, older people and individuals with existing respiratory or heart-related conditions.
Meanwhile, Safdarjung, the national capital’s base weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 14.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, which was 0.5 degrees above the seasonal average.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted fog or mist during the early morning hours. The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 28 degrees Celsius.
Weather conditions, including wind speed, temperature and atmospheric stability, can influence how quickly pollutants disperse. With pollution levels remaining elevated, residents may continue to experience poor air quality during the coming days.