Delhi’s Air Quality Dips Again: AQI Hits ‘Very Poor’ At 318 Amid Smog, Health Risks Rises

Delhi’s air quality deteriorates as AQI hits 318, entering the ‘very poor’ category. Smog, low winds, and winter pollution raise health risks, prompting warnings for residents.

Delhi Pollution Worsens: AQI Spikes as Cold, Smog Hit the City

Source : PTI

Delhi’s air quality is taking another sharp dive, and residents are once again facing the double burden of cold and pollution. The Centre’s Early Warning System (EWS) has issued an alert that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) could enter the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday. On Sunday morning, the AQI at India Gate was recorded at 325, confirming the worsening conditions.

For Delhiites, this is more than just numbers. The city’s winter air, already heavy with pollutants, is becoming increasingly hazardous, posing serious health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.

AQI Trends: A Quick Recap

The city had recently seen a brief improvement, with AQI levels dropping from “very poor” to “poor” thanks to favorable weather conditions. But the reprieve was short-lived. On Saturday, the AQI climbed from 275 to 292, remaining in the “poor” range. By 7 pm, it reached 299, just shy of the “very poor” threshold.

Pollution hotspots like Anand Vihar recorded a staggering AQI of 421 at 11 am, worsening to 428 by late evening, while Wazirpur also entered the “severe” category at 408. Interestingly, a shift in wind direction reduced the impact of stubble burning on PM2.5 from 3.45% on Friday to 0.98% on Saturday, yet emissions from transport still accounted for around 20% of pollutants.

Politics Enters the Fray

As the smog thickens, political tensions between the AAP and BJP have escalated. AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj shared a video claiming that MCD trucks were spraying water near Anand Vihar’s air monitoring station to manipulate AQI readings. He labeled this “data management, not pollution control.”

The BJP fired back. Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa defended the water sprinkling, explaining that it is a standard pollution-reduction measure recommended under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

What Lies Ahead: Weather and AQI Forecast

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), slow wind speeds will keep pollution particles suspended in the air for the coming days. The EWS predicts light northwesterly winds of around 4 km/h in the morning, increasing to 8 km/h by afternoon. Saturday’s minimum temperature hit 16.9°C, the lowest this month. Sunday’s forecast predicts a maximum of 30–32°C and a minimum of 16–18°C, with light rain and fog expected on Monday—offering a potential respite from the smog.

Residents have been urged to limit outdoor activity and take all possible precautions as the air quality deteriorates further.

Delhi’s AQI Today: October 26, 2025

Delhi woke up under a blanket of haze, with the citywide AQI at 318, placing it firmly in the “very poor” category. This marks a significant rise from Saturday’s 257 and Friday’s 293.

Key AQI readings across the city were:

Area	AQI
Anand Vihar	318
Chanakya Place	256
Goutampuri	316
Greater Kailash	252
Hauz Khas	252
Punjabi Bagh	258
RK Puram	236
Lajpat Nagar	246
Saket	221

AQI categories range from Good (0-50) to Severe (401-500). Higher numbers indicate more harmful air. EWS predicts that the AQI could soar to 320–360 today.

Delhi’s Chronic Pollution Problem

Delhi has long battled severe air pollution, particularly in winter when crop stubble burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial activity amplify the crisis. Though average annual AQI readings have shown gradual improvement—from 153 in 2020 to 139 in 2025—seasonal spikes continue to pose grave health risks.

Year	Average AQI
2020	153
2021	162
2022	174
2023	164
2024	169
2025*	139

 

*Data for 2025 reflects figures up to September.

Winter months remain particularly perilous, with AQI sometimes exceeding 700 in parts of the city, creating smog comparable to inhaling several cigarettes a day.

Declining Particulate Matter Levels

Despite these seasonal surges, PM2.5 and PM10 levels—key indicators of air quality—have gradually declined since 2018. The improvements are credited to enhanced monitoring, stricter industrial regulations, and dust control measures on construction sites enforced by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).