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10h ago

Delhi Air Quality Lurches Back to ‘Very Poor’ as Hotspots Enter ‘Severe’

Calm winds, fog plus regional smoke drove a rapid spike, prompting tighter GRAP enforcement.

Since Diwali, Delhi NCR’s AQI has remained in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ range.
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A bird takes a flight as a layer of smog engulfs the city after deterioration in air quality in Delhi-NCR.
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Overview

  • Citywide AQI jumped from 233 on Saturday to 377 at 7 am Sunday and touched 396 by 9 am, CPCB data show.
  • Multiple monitoring stations recorded ‘severe’ readings over 400, including Wazirpur (≈432) and RK Puram (≈425), with many others in the high 400s band.
  • Forecasting systems flagged fog, low wind speeds and a west–northwest flow combined with higher contributions from stubble burning and nearby districts such as Jhajjar.
  • Authorities escalated measures under GRAP Stage II, including doubled NDMC parking fees, checks at entry points and a ban on non‑Delhi‑registered BS‑III and older goods vehicles.
  • Cloud seeding remains on hold after two trials due to low moisture, while water sprinklers and anti‑smog guns were deployed and forecasters expect very poor air to persist for several days.