Delhi’s air quality continued to be categorized as ‘very poor,’ with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 330 in several areas on Thursday.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), as of 7:00 AM, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 392, Ashok Vihar 350, IGI Airport T3 334, ITO Delhi 324, RK Puram 359, and Dwarka Sector 8 348—all within the ‘very poor’ range.

The AQI scale classifies air quality as good between 0-50, satisfactory from 51-100, moderate from 101-200, poor between 201-300, very poor from 301-400, and severe between 401-500.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted a maximum temperature of 33°C and a minimum of 19°C for the day.

On October 24, Environment Minister Gopal Rai raised concerns over the rising pollution levels in the capital, attributing the worsening air quality to winds carrying pollutants from stubble burning in neighboring states. “With winds moving in the northwest direction, the impact of stubble burning from Haryana and Punjab will be more pronounced in Delhi. All departments are on high alert due to the rising pollution,” Rai said. He also urged the Union Environment Minister to call a meeting and accelerate research on artificial rain to address the pollution crisis. Additionally, he appealed to neighboring states to halt the entry of diesel vehicles into Delhi during this period.

Experts acknowledge the role of stubble burning in Delhi’s pollution but point out that it contributes only 6-8% of the city’s pollution throughout the year. “During October and November, stubble burning accounts for 25-30% of the pollution, but for the rest of the year, it contributes only 6-8%,” said Sagnik Dey, a professor at IIT Delhi.

Amid these concerns, toxic foam was observed in the Yamuna River at Kalindi Kunj, reflecting ongoing pollution issues in the city’s waterways.

(ANI)