Delhi’s air quality worsens: AQI hits ‘Very Poor’ category
After slight improvement on Monday morning, Delhi’s AQI worsened by evening due to slow winds. It remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday morning, with most monitoring stations recording AQI between 300 and 440.
At 6:30 am Tuesday, the SAMEER app reported an overall AQI of 396. However, 18 of 38 monitoring stations recorded levels over 400, classified as ‘severe.’ Key hotspots included Mundka (443), Anand Vihar (432), and Rohini (432).
Monday’s Brief Relief Delhi saw minor improvement on Monday morning, with Lodhi Road logging an AQI of 95, a ‘satisfactory’ level. However, low winds caused AQI to surge from 218 at 9 am to 377 by 7 pm.
Pollution Causes The Centre’s DSS attributed 16.4% of Delhi’s pollution on Monday to vehicular emissions and 11% to stubble burning. Stagnant winds and low temperatures also trapped pollutants near the ground, worsening air quality.
Impact on Schools The Supreme Court urged reopening physical classes to ensure access to mid-day meals and education for all. Following this, the CAQM allowed hybrid classes in Delhi NCR, offering students the choice to attend online or offline.
Weather Forecast Delhi’s Monday temperature was slightly below normal at 25.8°C. The IMD predicted moderate fog for Tuesday with temperatures ranging between 12°C and 26°C.
Efforts to enforce GRAP Stage 4 measures remain under scrutiny, as AQI crossed the hazardous 450-mark earlier this season.
