Overview
- Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI reached 314 at 4 pm on Monday after 308 on Sunday, with dozens of CPCB stations in the ‘very poor’ band and hotspots such as Mundka, Anand Vihar and Bawana in the 330–355 range.
- Early Tuesday readings showed the capital fluctuating between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’, with Bawana at 342 and several locations including Akshardham, Ghazipur and Chandni Chowk around 319–333.
- The Centre’s Early Warning System and IMD project ‘very poor’ conditions through the week with the possibility of deterioration toward the ‘severe’ category as winter dispersion weakens.
- The Decision Support System estimates transport as the largest local contributor at about 17.7%, with Delhi and peripheral industries (~8–8.5%), construction dust (~2–2.4%) and residential emissions (~4%) also adding to the load, alongside regional inflows from Jhajjar, Sonipat and Rohtak.
- Authorities reported a citywide cleanliness and dust-control push, penalties of about ₹7 crore and 48 construction-site closures, as a political dispute intensified over alleged water spraying near AQI monitors following remarks by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.