Despite rainfall and dropping temperatures on Friday, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category on Saturday, with several areas still under the “very poor” bracket, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (quality ) remained in the “poor” category across most parts of the city on Saturday morning, driven largely by high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
Chandni Chowk recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 306, followed by Siri Fort at 302.
Wazirpur registered 297, while Anand Vihar recorded 291. Dwarka Sector 8 reported an AQI of 286 and Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium at 273 at around 9 am.
Ashok Vihar also remained severely polluted with an AQI of 282, while Sonia Vihar recorded a comparatively lower but still unhealthy AQI of 272.
Despite the drop in temperatures brought by rainfall, pollution levels showed little improvement as the high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) contributed to the persistent pollution, keeping the city under a blanket of poor air.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized measure used to communicate how polluted the air is and its potential impact on health.
An AQI value between 0 and 50 is considered Good, indicating clean and healthy air. Values from 51 to 100 fall under Satisfactory, meaning the air quality is acceptable with only minor concerns for sensitive individuals. When the AQI ranges from 101 to 200, it is classified as Moderate, which may cause some health effects for vulnerable groups.
Levels between 201 and 300 are considered Poor, posing health risks for the general population. An AQI from 301 to 400 is labeled Very Poor, indicating a significant risk of adverse health effects. Finally, an AQI between 401 and 500 is termed Severe, representing extremely hazardous air conditions with serious health consequences for everyone.
