Delhi's air pollution worsens, set to be the worst since December 2021

With an air quality index (AQI) of 426 at 9am on Tuesday, the highest reading so far this year, Delhi's pollution levels worsened and fell into the severe category. Due to a spike in agricultural fires and weather conditions that encouraged the buildup of pollutants, the city was on track to experience its worst air pollution levels since December 26, 2021, when the AQI was 459 in the city. Under the influence of a western disturbance, which is anticipated to cause a change in wind direction, some relief was anticipated beginning on November 4.

According to the daily bulletin published at 4pm by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), it was 392 on Monday (extremely poor). On Sunday, the AQI was 352 (extremely poor).

An air quality index (AQI) of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 bad, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe.

Scientist V K Soni of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), who is also a member of the Commission for Air Quality Management, claimed that largely quiet northwesterly winds and steady atmospheric conditions are conducive to the accumulation of pollutants. He continued by saying that the mixing layer height, where pollutants are confined, was currently less than 500 metres. Because of this, he explained, pollutants are unable to disperse and a haze is present.