Overview
- Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI was 316 at 8 am Monday after 366 on Sunday, marking a third straight day in the ‘very poor’ range with many stations above 300 and several hitting ‘severe’ at times.
- The Air Quality Early Warning System projects a shift to ‘severe’ on Tuesday before a return to ‘very poor’ on Wednesday, citing calm winds, low ventilation and temperature-driven trapping of PM2.5.
- Source-apportionment data indicate transport as the largest local contributor to PM2.5 (~18%), with additional inputs from regional sources and a stubble-burning share of about 3.5% on Sunday.
- Authorities have activated GRAP controls, including construction curbs, road dust suppression and a ban on entry of non-compliant commercial goods vehicles that took effect on November 1.
- Punjab’s government ordered schools in Lahore and parts of central Punjab to start no earlier than 8:45 am from November 3 through January 31 to ease morning traffic emissions during the smog spell.