Overview
- The citywide AQI fell from 373 on Thursday—the worst October reading in three years—to 218 on Friday, then rose again on Saturday to 303 at 4 pm after starting the day in the low- to mid-200s.
- Authorities enforced the CAQM ban on entry of non‑Delhi‑registered BS‑III and older commercial goods vehicles from November 1, with joint teams deployed at key borders.
- Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan remains active and NDMC has doubled parking fees to discourage private vehicle use.
- Meteorologists linked the late‑October spike to calm winds, high humidity and a temperature inversion, while trace rain and stronger winds on Friday briefly improved dispersion before conditions worsened again.
- Source‑apportionment data showed vehicular traffic as a leading contributor to PM2.5 (~16–17%) and farm fires as a minor share (~0.5–2.6%), as hospitals reported more respiratory complaints since Diwali.