Delhi’s air quality worsened on Saturday, December 27, as dense fog and thick smog blanketed the national capital, pushing the air quality index (AQI)
into ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories across several areas.
Reduced visibility marked the morning hours, compounding health concerns for residents already grappling with deteriorating air conditions.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall AQI stood at 355 at 9 am, firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. By definition, an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered ‘very poor’, while readings above 400 fall in the ‘severe’ range. Several localities breached this threshold as the day progressed.
Also read: Delhi air quality improves as overall AQI falls into 'poor' category
Akshardham and Anand Vihar recorded AQI levels of around 410, while areas such as Bawana, Vivek Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Narela, Rohini and Nehru Nagar also reported ‘severe’ pollution levels later in the day. Dhaula Kuan, comparatively lower, registered an AQI of 252, categorised as ‘poor’.
Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI rose sharply to 332 by Friday afternoon, compared with 234 a day earlier, signalling a rapid deterioration. Pollution levels climbed steadily through the day amid unfavourable weather conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said calm winds and high moisture content in the air were key contributors. Relative humidity stood at 100% at 8.30 am, while wind speeds remained low for most of the day, limiting the dispersion of pollutants.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 7.8 degrees Celsius, about one degree above normal, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 22 degrees Celsius. The IMD has forecast foggy conditions and issued a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog, warning that a series of western disturbances could keep pollution levels elevated in the coming days.
