Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply within 24 hours, with the city’s average Air Quality Index rising from 90 to 159 and 12 monitoring areas recording AQI levels above 200 on Saturday evening. The deterioration comes as the forecast indicates no rain across Delhi and the National Capital Region for the next three to four days.
The citywide AQI of 159 remained in the moderate category, but the readings above 200 placed 12 areas in the poor category. The affected locations included residential neighbourhoods and areas with high traffic volumes, according to the report. The spread of poor readings across different types of urban areas indicates that pollution was not limited to a single localised hotspot.
The weather conditions are expected to provide limited relief in the immediate term. The report, citing the weather department, said daytime wind speeds between 19 and 22 October could remain between 15 and 20 kilometres per hour, while conditions are expected to be clearer during the afternoon. Wind speeds are likely to be lower in the morning and evening, when pollution levels could rise further.
Delhi’s maximum temperature is expected to remain between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius through the week ending 23 October. The report said the absence of rain and a lack of a significant fall in temperature could allow pollution levels to remain elevated. Rain can temporarily remove some pollutants from the air, while stagnant or slower-moving air can allow emissions to accumulate closer to the ground.
The report also identified higher traffic linked to Durga Puja, along with dust and fireworks, as factors that could affect air quality. These sources operate within a city where traffic corridors, residential areas and festival activity often overlap, increasing the importance of neighbourhood-level monitoring and short-term pollution control measures.
AQI readings cited from AQI.in show how quickly conditions changed. Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 135 at 10.30 am on 16 October before improving to 65. The improvement did not continue: by the evening, the reading had risen to 240. At 10.30 am on 17 October, it stood at 216, before the citywide average was recorded at 159 on Saturday.
The variation between individual monitoring stations and the citywide average is significant for residents. A moderate citywide figure can coexist with poor air in specific neighbourhoods, particularly around busy roads or areas affected by dust and local emissions. The latest readings therefore point to uneven exposure across Delhi rather than a uniform condition across the capital.
The immediate forecast, as reported, is for no rain over the next three to four days, with lower morning and evening wind speeds remaining a concern. Air-quality conditions during this period will depend on how traffic, dust, fireworks and other local emissions interact with these weather patterns.
