Delhi woke up to another day of hazardous air on Monday as pollution levels remained firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, while seven areas of the city slipped into the ‘severe’ zone, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 366 on Monday morning. Several pockets recorded far worse readings, highlighting the uneven but dangerous spread of pollution across the capital.
Narela emerged as the worst-affected area, registering an AQI of 418, firmly in the ‘severe’ category. It was followed by Bawana (408), Wazirpur (403) and Anand Vihar (402) at around 7.20 am, CPCB data showed.
A day earlier, Delhi had recorded an overall AQI of 377, also in the ‘very poor’ category, indicating no meaningful improvement in air quality over the weekend.
What the AQI levels mean
Under CPCB standards, AQI values are classified as follows:
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0–50: Good
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51–100: Satisfactory
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101–200: Moderate
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201–300: Poor
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301–400: Very Poor
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401–500: Severe
An AQI in the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ category poses serious health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or cardiac conditions.
Fog adds to disruption
Dense fog compounded the pollution crisis on Monday morning, disrupting rail services and reducing visibility across parts of the city. According to PTI, several trains at New Delhi Railway Station were rescheduled due to foggy conditions.
Despite the reduced visibility, Delhi airport said flight operations remained normal. In an advisory, airport authorities urged passengers to stay in touch with airlines for updates, even as operations continued under low-visibility procedures.
Pollution likely to persist
The CPCB warned that Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain ‘very poor’ for at least the next three days. Beyond that, pollution levels could fluctuate between the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories over the following six days, according to forecasts from the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS).
Weather conditions remain unfavourable for pollutant dispersion. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said wind speeds across the capital were below 10 kmph, which prevents pollutants from dispersing effectively.
Weather outlook: fog and cold conditions
The IMD issued a yellow alert for fog on Monday, warning of moderate fog at most locations and dense fog at isolated spots during early morning hours.
Forecasts indicate that moderate to shallow fog is likely from Tuesday to Thursday. Although the IMD had earlier predicted ‘cold day’ conditions in isolated areas, no station met the official criteria on Sunday.
Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 16.9°C, while Palam reported 16.3°C on Saturday. For Delhi, a ‘cold day’ is declared when the minimum temperature falls below 10°C and the maximum temperature remains at least 4.5 degrees below normal.
Temperatures show slight improvement
As sunlight briefly broke through on Sunday, daytime temperatures edged upward. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 18.1°C, four degrees below normal but higher than Saturday’s 16.9°C.
The IMD expects daytime temperatures to rise further, reaching around 20–22°C on Monday. However, the improvement in temperature is unlikely to bring immediate relief from pollution.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.3°C, adding to discomfort caused by smog and fog.
Health advisory remains in place
Doctors continue to advise residents to limit outdoor exposure, especially during early morning and late evening hours. People with breathing difficulties are urged to wear masks and avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors.
With pollution levels showing little sign of easing, authorities and health experts have reiterated the need for precautionary measures as Delhi continues to grapple with one of its worst air pollution spells this winter.
