Delhi braces for winter smog as AQI jumps from 65 to 216 in a day; know why pollution crisis could worsen in national capital
PTC News Desk: Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated sharply, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 216 at 10:31 am on October 17, according to AQI.in.
The platform has classified the reading as “Unhealthy”. This comes after a brief period of cleaner air during the previous 24 hours. The worsening air quality is a concern as Delhi heads towards winter, when weather conditions can prevent pollutants from dispersing. With no rainfall expected in the coming days, pollution is likely to remain a concern.
Delhi’s air quality improved before worsening again
AQI.in’s hourly data from 10:31 am on October 16 to 10:31 am on October 17 shows that pollution levels initially dropped before rising sharply again.
The AQI was around 135 at the beginning of this period. It then fell gradually through the afternoon, reaching a low of about 65. However, the improvement did not last long.
Pollution levels began rising rapidly in the evening, crossed 200 and reached around 240 overnight. After falling slightly, the AQI increased again on Saturday morning, reaching 216 at 10:31 am on October 17.
While AQI.in classifies this reading as “Unhealthy”, the official scale used by India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) places an AQI of 216 in the “Poor” category, which covers readings between 201 and 300. Although the labels differ, both indicate worsening air quality.
Why could Delhi’s air quality worsen further?
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast mostly clear skies in Delhi over the coming days, with no rainfall expected until October 23.
Maximum temperatures are expected to remain between 31°C and 33°C initially, before rising by 2–3°C after October 17. Without rain, the city will miss an opportunity for rainfall to wash some pollutants out of the air. However, pollution levels also depend on factors such as emissions, wind speed, wind direction and how easily pollutants disperse.
The air quality forecast issued by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) also points to a possible deterioration. Its October 16 bulletin predicted that Delhi’s air quality would enter the “Poor” category on October 19 and remain there during the following six-day forecast period.
As winter approaches, the latest readings highlight how quickly air quality can worsen after a short period of relief and the need for Delhi to prepare for rising pollution levels.
- PTC NEWS
