Delhi’s air quality hit concerning levels on Monday, remaining in the “very poor” category with an AQI of 320 early in the day, edging toward “severe.” According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Anand Vihar registered the highest AQI at 433, followed by Wazirpur at 414. These levels are close to January’s peak AQI of 392, and this October saw a previous high of 364 on October 23.
Tourists and residents alike are distressed by the pollution. Ashish, a tourist from Mumbai, noted the severe impact on the elderly, with smog obscuring the sunrise. Local resident Manoj Kumar voiced similar concerns, emphasizing the need to stay indoors, especially for those with compromised immunity.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that Delhi’s air quality will remain “very poor” until Wednesday, with mist or smog persisting through midweek. Temperatures are expected to range from a high of 34°C to a low of 17°C, with shallow fog anticipated on Monday morning.
The AQI scale used to categorize air quality defines “very poor” as 301-400, with “severe” beginning at 401 and escalating beyond 450 into “severe plus.”
