New Delhi, November 8 (Udaipur Kiran): Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Saturday, with several parts of the national capital recording Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 400, placing the city in the ‘severe’ or ‘toxic’ category. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s 24-hour average AQI stood at 361, marking Delhi as the second most polluted city in India and pushing it into the ‘Red Zone’.

Within 24 hours, the AQI surged by 39 points, indicating a rapid worsening of air conditions. By 5 pm on Saturday, several areas — including Alipur, Bawana, Burari Crossing, ITO, Jahangirpuri, Narela, Nehru Nagar, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, and Wazirpur — recorded AQI levels above 400, signifying dangerously high pollution levels.

Pollution Levels Three Times Higher Than Normal

According to CPCB data, PM2.5 and PM10 remained the dominant pollutants. As of 3 pm, PM10 levels stood at 321 µg/m³ and PM2.5 levels at 187 µg/m³ — more than three times the safe limit. For air to be considered healthy, PM10 should be below 100 µg/m³ and PM2.5 below 60 µg/m³.

Three Key Factors Behind Rising Pollution

Experts identified three major causes for the current spike in pollution: stubble burning, low wind speed, and falling temperatures. Wind speeds remained under 10 km/h for most of the day, slowing pollutant dispersion. The northwesterly winds also carried smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring states into Delhi. The drop in minimum temperature further trapped pollutants close to the ground, worsening the situation.

Stubble Burning a Major Contributor

Data from the Decision Support System (DSS) indicates that stubble burning accounts for nearly 30% of Delhi’s pollution, while the transport sector contributes around 15.2%. Satellite data recorded 100 incidents in Punjab, 18 in Haryana, and 164 in Uttar Pradesh on Friday alone.

Air Quality to Remain ‘Severe’ in Coming Days

Forecasts from the Air Quality Early Warning System suggest that Delhi’s air will remain in the ‘very poor to severe’ category for the next few days. Wind speeds are expected to stay below 10 km/h, and lower-than-normal temperatures will continue to restrict pollutant dispersion. The situation is unlikely to improve significantly for at least four to five days.

Fog Expected in Mornings

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts dense fog during early mornings until November 14, due to the falling temperatures and rising humidity. However, stronger afternoon winds could bring temporary relief by dispersing pollutants and fog.

For now, Delhi residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities, wear N95 masks, and limit exposure during early mornings and evenings, when pollution levels are at their peak.