Particle.news
Download on the App Store
44 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Delhi Air Improves to ‘Poor’ After Three-Year October High as Vehicle Curbs Begin

Weather delivered a brief reprieve that forecasters say could reverse within days.

Image
Image
A bird takes a flight as a layer of smog engulfs the city after deterioration in air quality in Delhi-NCR.
Image

Overview

  • Delhi’s 24-hour AQI fell from 373 on October 30 to roughly 218–268 on Friday and stood at 233 on Saturday morning, keeping the city in the poor category.
  • IMD pointed to sunshine, stronger winds and trace rain for the quick improvement, with forecasts warning of a return to very poor between November 1 and 3.
  • GRAP Stage II remains in force, NDMC has doubled parking fees, and CAQM’s restriction on entry of non-compliant outside commercial goods vehicles took effect on November 1.
  • Source apportionment indicated transport as the largest PM2.5 contributor (about 13–17%) during the episode, while stubble burning’s share was modest (roughly 0.5–6%).
  • The October 30 surge — Delhi’s worst October AQI in three years — also drew scrutiny after a Hindustan Times analysis found the official spike exceeded CAMS model trends.