Delhi Air Quality Slips to Very Poor as IIT Delhi Marks AQI of 428

Delhi woke up to very poor air quality on Sunday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index touching 350 according to the Sameer app. GRAP Stage III rules remain active as the government pushes ahead with pollution checks in the city.

Air Quality Levels

Out of 54 monitoring stations across the capital, 47 reported very poor air quality while seven stations fell into the severe category. IIT Delhi recorded the highest AQI in the city at 428, and the ITO monitoring station followed closely with 414.

Weather Conditions

The India Meteorological Department reported a minimum temperature of 18.6 degrees Celsius, which is 5.1 degrees lower than the usual average for this time of year. Relative humidity stood at 91 per cent in the morning at 8:30 a.m., while the weather department expects a cloudy sky with light rain or a drizzle and a maximum temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.

Context

The Central Pollution Control Board classifies an AQI between 301 and 400 as very poor and anything from 401 to 500 as severe, levels that can cause breathing trouble for healthy people and serious issues for those with existing health conditions. Cold weather and high humidity often trap pollutants closer to the ground during this period, worsening urban smog.