Delhi air quality drops to ‘poor’ category ahead of Diwali with 201 AQI

The air quality in Delhi deteriorated to the ‘poor’ category for the first time this season on Tuesday, barely a week ahead of Diwali. The average air quality index (AQI) in the city stood at 202 (poor) at 11 am – the first in this range since June 11, when the air quality was 245 (poor), data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed.

A thin layer of smog engulfs Kartavya Path in New Delhi. (ANI)

A dip in wind speed and cooler nights is gradually leading to a spike in pollution, experts said.

Forecasts by the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi shows no relief ahead, with ‘very poor’ AQI also likely around or after Diwali.

“Delhi’s air quality is very likely to be in the ‘poor’ category from October 14 till October 16. The outlook for the subsequent six days shows the air quality is likely to be between the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ category,” the EWS said in its last bulletin on Monday.