Delhi’s AQI climbs to 187; ITO reaches severe level of 430

Delhi’s overall AQI rose from 90 on Friday to 187 on Sunday, while the ITO monitoring station recorded a severe reading of 430.

CPCB data showed that Delhi’s citywide reading remained in the moderate category, while 22 monitoring locations logged poor air quality. On Saturday, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 348, Mundka was at 227 and Jahangirpuri at 212.

Delhi’s minimum temperature fell to 17.1°C on Sunday, 1.3°C below the seasonal normal. Dry conditions and slower winds are forecast to continue, with no rainfall expected over the coming week.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Delhi has recorded 211 days of good, satisfactory or moderate air quality so far this year. He said this was the city’s highest such tally since 2016, excluding the COVID-affected year of 2020.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast no rain for the coming week.