Pollution Returns In Delhi As AQI Slips To 'Very Poor' Category, 'Severe' In These Areas

Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the "very poor" category with an Air Quality Index of 301, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Despite recent rainfall and thundershowers offering temporary relief, a layer of dust and smog has now enveloped the city.

Source : ANI

The air quality in the national capital slipped to "very poor" category on Friday with Air Quality Index at 301 as at 7 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board. 

A thin layer of dust and smog engulfed the city after spells of rainfall and thundershowers earlier this week brought a brief improvement. 

#WATCH | Delhi woke up to bad-quality air, with an AQI of 249, categorised as 'poor', in the area around India Gate, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. pic.twitter.com/iaJiudKL99

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2025

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", 401 and 450 "severe" and above 450 "severe-plus".

Alipur, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Mathura Road, DTU, Dwarka Sector-8, Jahangirpuri, and Okhla were some of the most polluted areas in the city with AQI above 301. 

Mundka and Wazirabad recorded even higher levels of pollution with AQI above 400. 

Station
Alipur	352
Anand Vihar	362
Ashok Vihar	328
Bawana	289
Burari Crossing	243
CRRI Mathura Road	344
DTU	365
Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range	290
Dwarks Sector-8	338
IGI Airport (T3)	240
IBHAS, Dilshad Garden	334
ITO	218
Jahangirpuri	353
Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium	260
Lodhi Road	247
Dhyan Chand Stadium	249
Mandir Marg	241
Mundka	406
NSIT Dwarka	355
Najafgarh	271
Narela	311
Nehru Nagar	264
New Moti Bagh	-
North Campus, DU	324
Okhla Phase-2	322
Patparganj	321
Punjabi Bagh	311
Pusa, DPCC	261
Pusa, IMD	259
RK Puram	265
Rohini	338
Shadipur	326
Siri Fort	355
Sonia Vihar	302
Sri Aurobindo Marg	213
Vivek Vihar	324
Wazirpur	419

The adjacent NCR cities also logged poor air quality with Gurugram reoprting an AQI of 294, Faridabad 288, Ghaziabad 283, Greater Noida 256, and Noida 289. 

The city experienced high levels of pollution with layer of dust on the horizon on Thursday following overnight dust storms. The poor air quality reduced visibility. 

According to India Meteoroligcal Department, dust from northern Pakistan advected towards Delhi-NCR across Punjab and Haryana, driven by strong westerly winds over the two states. 

On Wednesday, visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport dropped from 4,500 metres to 1,200 metres between 10 a.m. and 11:30 pm. 

Doctors have advised Delhi residents to exercise caution as the dust can cause long-term damage. The particulate matter can lodge deep in the lungs, potentially causing progressive lung diseases, a Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) doctor told PTI.