Delhi residents experienced a brief respite on Saturday morning as the city's overall Air Quality Index dropped to 235 by 8 am, entering the 'poor' category after prolonged periods of 'very poor' to 'severe' pollution. Several monitoring stations, including Mandir Marg at 128, Bawana at 145, and IGI Airport Terminal 3 at 148, recorded moderate air quality. In contrast, Jahangirpuri registered the highest reading of 309, reflecting persistent localized challenges.

The improvement followed a sharp decline from Thursday's AQI of 380 to 236 on Friday, primarily attributed to strong surface winds reaching 15-20 km per hour that dispersed pollutants effectively. Authorities noted this positive shift in the prevailing air quality trend, providing temporary relief amid the ongoing winter pollution crisis.

However, forecasts indicate the relief will be fleeting, with the Air Quality Early Warning System predicting a return to 'very poor' category from Sunday through Tuesday, extending into at least eight consecutive days. Meteorological experts attribute the impending deterioration to changing wind patterns and the absence of significant weather disturbances in the near term.

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In response to the recent improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management revoked Stage-III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan on Friday evening. This decision lifts bans on private construction and demolition activities, mining operations, and restrictions on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles, while maintaining preventive actions from Stages I and II to prevent further decline.

Additionally, the India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog over the weekend, accompanied by a projected drop in minimum temperatures to 6-8 degrees Celsius due to persistent northwesterly winds. Residents are advised to adhere to ongoing citizen guidelines under lower GRAP stages as winter conditions continue to influence both air quality and visibility.

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