Delhi Records 'Very Poor' Air Quality on Sunday; AQI Settles at 376 Ahead of Diwali

Delhi's average Air Quality Index settled at 376 in the 'very poor' category on Sunday, with forecasts indicating a turn to 'severe' levels due to Diwali celebrations, vehicular emissions, and stubble burning. Out of 59 monitoring stations, 12 recorded 'severe' air quality and 22 recorded 'very poor' levels.

Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 376 on Sunday, placing the city's air quality firmly in the 'very poor' category as a thick layer of smog reduced visibility across the capital. The figure marked an increase from Saturday's average AQI of 369, bringing the city close to the 'severe' threshold of 400.

Data from 59 monitoring stations across Delhi showed that air quality reached the 'severe' category at 12 locations and remained 'very poor' at 22 stations. The highest AQI in the city was recorded in Jahangirpuri at 463, where several monitoring stations breached the 400 mark.

According to forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, air quality is expected to turn 'severe' on Monday following Diwali celebrations. The EWS indicates that conditions are likely to remain in the 'severe' category starting November 9 for a few days.

Weather and air quality experts attribute the deteriorating conditions to a combination of unfavorable meteorological factors, Diwali-related celebrations, vehicular emissions, and the peak period of stubble burning in neighboring states. Unfavourable weather conditions include a ventilation index below 6,000 square metres per second and an average wind speed of less than 10 kilometres per hour, which restrict the effective dispersion of pollutants.

PM2.5 remained the predominant pollutant in the national capital on Sunday, with emissions from firecrackers contributing to particulate matter levels. Data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for Delhi indicated that the transport sector was the largest contributor to the city's pollution on Sunday at 19 percent, while stubble burning contributed 3.5 percent, with forecasts projecting a contribution of around 2.99 percent on Monday.

As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifications, an AQI between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 is 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 is 'moderate', 201 to 300 is 'poor', 301 to 400 is 'very poor', and 401 to 500 is 'severe'.

"Severe environmental challenges like deteriorating air quality in major urban centers significantly impact business operations, workforce productivity, and consumer behavior. As capital cities face recurring particulate pollution spikes driven by transport, seasonal stubble burning, and local events, businesses must adapt by incorporating sustainable practices and robust contingency planning. Long-term economic stability relies heavily on addressing these systemic infrastructural and environmental factors." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes