Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Sunday, with the air quality index (AQI) breaching the “severe” threshold late at night amid dense smog, biting cold and widespread fog across northern India.
According to the ministry of earth sciences’ Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the AQI climbed to 410 at 11 pm on Saturday, entering the severe category. Although there was a marginal improvement by 6:30 am on Sunday, the AQI remained close to severe at 396.
The forecast warned of persistently hazardous conditions, stating that air quality is likely to remain in the “severe” category from December 20 to December 22, before easing slightly to the “very poor” category on December 23. The outlook for the next six days continues to be alarming, with pollution levels expected to fluctuate between very poor and severe.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app showed several monitoring stations across the capital recording hazardous air quality levels in the early morning hours. Among the worst-affected areas were Chandni Chowk (455), Wazirpur (449), Rohini (444), Jahangirpuri (444), Anand Vihar (438) and Mundka (436), all firmly in the severe range.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the worsening conditions to dense fog and falling temperatures. It issued orange alerts for large parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, warning of dense to very dense fog and urging residents and authorities to prepare for significant disruptions.