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Delhi Air Quality Stays 'Very Poor' as City Braces for 'Severe' Reading on Tuesday

Forecasts point to a Tuesday spike driven by stagnant conditions that are trapping fine particulate pollution.

Overview

  • Delhi’s 24-hour AQI averaged 366 on Sunday after peaking near 388 in the morning, then settled around 316–324 early Monday, keeping the city in the very poor bracket.
  • Multiple monitoring sites crossed 400 on Sunday — including Wazirpur (up to 418), Burari, Chandni Chowk, RK Puram and Vivek Vihar — even as citywide averages later eased.
  • CPCB data showed PM2.5 at about 189.6 µg/m³ and PM10 near 316, with weak winds and temperature inversions limiting dispersion and raising health risks for all groups.
  • Authorities have activated Stage 2 GRAP curbs, boosted road cleaning and water sprinkling, restricted certain construction, and Delhi’s NDMC has doubled parking fees to deter private car use.
  • Source apportionment points to transport as the leading local contributor (~18%) with stubble smoke currently low (~3.5%), while Punjab ordered schools to start at 8:45 am from Nov 3 to cut morning traffic emissions.