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1h ago

Winds Lift Delhi AQI to 259 as Brief Respite Nears End

Dense fog plus a cold wave are forecast to quickly reverse the wind-driven improvement.

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Newslaundry's Priyali Dhingra reporting on AQI levels during rush hour traffic with the Aaj Ka AQI and Fight to Breathe logos, and evening rush hour traffic in the background.
Delhi Still Chokes on Toxic Smog But AQI Shows Slight Improvement

Overview

  • Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI improved to 259 by 4 pm on December 10, down from 282 a day earlier, as surface winds strengthened to about 15–18 kmph.
  • Despite the citywide dip into the ‘poor’ band, several monitoring sites stayed ‘very poor’, including NSIT Dwarka at 324 and Bawana at 319, with others above 300.
  • The Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System projects a return to ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ levels from December 11 as dispersion weakens.
  • The India Meteorological Department warns dense fog and a cold wave will reduce visibility and hinder pollutant dispersion, with minimum temperatures set to fall.
  • Delhi’s decision-support data shows vehicles as the top local contributor at roughly 17%, and authorities are enforcing ₹5,000 fines for open burning and a ban on coal or firewood in commercial tandoors.