Delhi’s air quality showed marginal improvement Wednesday, shifting from “very poor” to “poor” with an overall Air Quality Index of 230, though a light haze continued blanketing the capital, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
Localized Pollution Hotspots
Areas including ITO and Akshardham recorded worse conditions, with AQI levels touching 281 early morning—slightly improved from Tuesday evening’s 291 but remaining unhealthy. Delhi experienced three consecutive days of “very poor” air quality this week, recording AQI of 366 on Sunday and 309 on Monday.
Several monitoring stations displayed alarming readings Tuesday. Alipur, Wazirpur, Bawana, and Anand Vihar reported “severe” pollution levels between 402 and 421.
Contributing Factors
Officials attribute the deterioration to post-Diwali declining wind speeds and cooler temperatures trapping pollutants near ground level. Since the October 20 festival, air quality has oscillated between “poor” and “very poor” as smog persists.
Stubble Burning Decline
The Commission for Air Quality Management reported stubble-burning—a major seasonal pollution source—has declined compared to last year. Between September 15 and November 3, Punjab logged 2,518 farm fires versus 4,132 last year, while Haryana saw 145, down from 857.
Authorities inspected over 2,200 fields and imposed environmental compensation totaling ₹55.75 lakh on violators.
National Pollution Trends
A Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report painted a grim national picture for October 2025, showing sharp air quality deterioration across India, particularly in the national capital region.
Dharuhera in Haryana topped India’s most polluted cities list in October, enduring two “severe” and nine “very poor” days. Rohtak, Ghaziabad, Noida, Ballabgarh, and Delhi followed. Delhi ranked sixth overall, with average PM2.5 concentrations three times higher than September levels.
Health Implications
“Poor” air quality at 230 AQI can cause breathing discomfort for sensitive groups, while “very poor” levels affect healthy individuals and seriously impact those with existing respiratory conditions. The persistent pollution underscores ongoing challenges in managing seasonal air quality deterioration despite regulatory interventions.
Outlook
Meteorological conditions and continued enforcement of anti-pollution measures will determine whether Delhi’s air quality sustains improvement or reverts to hazardous levels typical of the winter season.
