Delhi experienced a temporary improvement in air quality on Wednesday after nearly 13 days of hazardous pollution, with the city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) falling to 271 — classified as ‘poor’ — from ‘severe’ levels a day earlier.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI dropped sharply from 412 recorded at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, marking the first time since December 10 that air quality has moved out of the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ categories.
The improvement was largely driven by favourable weather conditions, including stronger surface winds ranging between 15 and 25 kmph during the day. Winds blowing predominantly from the northwest, reaching up to 20 kmph in the afternoon, helped disperse pollutants across the region.
However, authorities cautioned that the relief may be short-lived. Wind speeds are expected to weaken to below 10 kmph from the west during the evening and night, raising concerns that pollution levels could climb again. The Air Quality Early Warning System has forecast that Delhi’s air may slip back into the ‘very poor’ category over the next six days.
Of the city’s 40 operational air quality monitoring stations, four — Lodhi Road, IIT Delhi, IGI Airport and Aya Nagar — reported ‘moderate’ AQI levels below 200. Most stations, 33 in total, remained in the ‘poor’ category, while only Nehru Nagar and Dwarka recorded ‘very poor’ readings above 300, according to CPCB’s SAMEER app.
Pollution source analysis from the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management showed vehicular emissions as the leading contributor on Wednesday, accounting for 17.5 per cent of the pollution load. Industrial emissions from Delhi and surrounding areas contributed 8.6 per cent, followed by construction activities at 2.4 per cent and waste burning at 1.3 per cent.
Among National Capital Region districts, Jhajjar in Haryana emerged as the largest external contributor at 12 per cent, followed by Sonipat (6.5 per cent), Rohtak (5.4 per cent) and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh (2.7 per cent).
On the weather front, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 22.7°C — slightly above normal — and a minimum of 10.2°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Relative humidity levels stood at 100 per cent in the morning and dropped to 78 per cent by evening.
The IMD has forecast a mainly clear sky for Christmas Day, with shallow to moderate fog during morning hours. Temperatures are expected to range between 6°C and 22°C, while surface winds are likely to remain light — conditions that could once again hamper pollutant dispersion.
