SAFAR Monitoring Shows Delhi Air Quality in “Very Poor” Category Until Nov 28

Delhi's air quality remained in the "very poor" category on Wednesday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) clocking in at 337 at 9 a.m. according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), as hazardous smog continued to blanket the national capital amid stagnant winter conditions and no immediate relief in sight.

PM2.5 emerged as the primary pollutant driving the toxic haze, with concentrations well above safe limits across multiple monitoring stations; readings included Mundka at 371 (severe), Delhi Technological University at 367 (very poor), Dwarka Sector-8 at 359 (very poor), ITO at 358 (very poor), Karni Shooting Range at 354 (very poor), JNU Stadium at 337 (very poor), and Dhyan Chand Stadium at 301 (very poor). Other sites like IHBAS reported a relatively milder 249 (poor), while PM10 levels spiked in neighboring areas such as Palwal, Alwar, and Bharatpur. Compared to Tuesday's 24-hour average of around 353, levels showed marginal improvement but stayed hazardous, with real-time trackers like aqi.in noting a 7 a.m. AQI of 373 in the severe range.

The India Meteorological Department forecasts sustained "very poor" conditions through November 28, with the AQI potentially dipping into "severe" over the next six days due to calm winds, shallow fog, and dropping temperatures—maximums of 23-25°C and minimums of 8-11°C. A brief alert over volcanic ash from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi eruption has eased, as the high-altitude plume (15,000-25,000 feet) is drifting eastward without mixing into ground-level air and is expected to clear India by evening. Local factors like vehicular emissions, crop residue burning, and industrial activity continue to exacerbate the annual winter crisis.

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Health experts warn that prolonged exposure risks respiratory illnesses, headaches, fatigue, and throat irritation, particularly for vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions; authorities advise limiting outdoor activities, using N95 masks, and relying on air purifiers indoors. Under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), measures include bans on non-essential trucks entering Delhi and enhanced public transport, though critics argue enforcement remains inconsistent amid the city's second-longest streak of sub-300 AQI days this season.

Also Read: Delhi to Follow Tougher GRAP Restrictions as CAQM Revises Anti-Pollution Rules