Overview
- Delhi’s overall AQI reached 268 on Saturday, marking a fifth straight day in the poor category as haze reduced visibility in parts of the city.
- Nine of 38 monitoring stations reported very poor air, with Anand Vihar around 384–389 and several locations such as Wazirpur, Bawana and Jahangirpuri crossing 300.
- Ghaziabad recorded 324 in the very poor range, while Noida was at 298 and Gurugram at 258 in the poor range, with Faridabad recently holding in the moderate band.
- Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan remains active across NCR with dust-control measures and sprinkling, and officials are enforcing the Supreme Court’s restricted use of certified green firecrackers through licensed sales and limited hours.
- The Air Quality Early Warning System projects poor to very poor conditions in the coming days with a potential spike after Diwali; transport remains the top contributor at roughly 16–18% and stubble fires were detected in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, prompting health advice for masks and reduced outdoor exertion for vulnerable groups.