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3h ago

Delhi Air Quality Returns to 'Very Poor' as Stubble Smoke Surges

Official forecasters attribute the spike largely to stubble smoke transported on weak northwesterlies.

An aerial view of the city shrouded in smog, in New Delhi.
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According to the CPCB bulletin released on 4 pm on Thursday, Delhi was the fourth most polluted city in India out of 254 cities with an AQI of 311 and ‘very poor’ air quality.

Overview

  • Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI climbed to 311 in the ‘Very Poor’ range, with most monitoring stations registering PM2.5 above 300, according to the CPCB.
  • Independent trackers showed far worse hotspots, with IQAir reporting an overall AQI of 727 and AQI.in reading around 591 on Friday morning.
  • The Decision Support System estimated stubble burning contributed 21.5% of PM2.5 on Thursday and projected 36.9% for Friday and 32.4% for Saturday, as Punjab logged 351 fires on Thursday.
  • The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast very poor conditions through November 8 as calm northwesterly winds below 10 kmph and a temperature drop to 12.7°C favored pollutant build-up.
  • Authorities launched intensified road-dust cleaning with 200 vans and stepped-up industrial and vehicular checks, while experts urged N95 masks and limited outdoor activity and protesters pressed for stronger action.