Overview
- Delhi’s citywide AQI reached 303 at 4 pm on Saturday, with 26 of 38 stations in the ‘very poor’ range and Wazirpur peaking at 383.
- The setback followed a short reprieve on Friday when the 24-hour average fell to 218, helped by sunshine, slightly stronger winds and trace rainfall in parts of the NCR.
- Authorities intensified controls under GRAP: NDMC doubled parking fees and teams began turning back non-compliant commercial goods vehicles at Delhi’s borders from November 1.
- Source-apportionment during the spike attributed roughly 16–17% of PM2.5 to vehicular emissions, while stubble burning contributed about 2–3%.
- Cloud-seeding trials are paused after IMD data showed no measurable rainfall, and forecasts warn of continued volatility with potential improvement after a western disturbance expected later next week.