Delhi woke up to a hazy and polluted Sunday, with the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 270 at 6 a.m., officially placing the national capital in the ‘poor’ category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). While this marks a slight improvement from the “very poor” and “severe” conditions seen in the past few days, the air remains unsafe for prolonged outdoor exposure. Officials noted that an improved surface wind movement on Saturday evening helped disperse some accumulated pollutants, offering this marginal relief, but the ground reality of widespread pollution persists.
Despite the citywide average being in the ‘poor’ range (AQI 201-300), several pockets of Delhi recorded significantly higher pollution levels, nearing the ‘very poor’ threshold (AQI 301-400). Shadipur emerged as the most polluted spot of the morning with an AQI of 336, followed by RK Puram at 308, both falling under the ‘very poor’ category. This indicates a high likelihood of respiratory discomfort even among healthy individuals in these areas. Other widespread hotspots like Burari (283), Bawana (295), and Anand Vihar (281) also remained in the ‘poor’ band.
The pollution struggle extended across the National Capital Region (NCR), with Noida reporting a ‘poor’ AQI of 267 and Gurugram registering 233. Ghaziabad also fell into the ‘poor’ category at 262. Only a few locations, like Mandir Marg (157) in Delhi and Faridabad (178) in the NCR, managed to record ‘moderate’ air quality (AQI 101-200). With winter setting in and pollution levels expected to fluctuate, health experts continue to urge citizens to limit outdoor activity during early mornings and late evenings when particulate matter is trapped closer to the ground.
