Capital records AQI of 339 after 60-point jump in 24 hours; meteorologists forecast relief as western disturbance brings stronger winds
Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Wednesday, slipping into the “very poor” category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 339, ending a three-day period of relatively better “poor” air. The spike represents a significant 60-point increase from Tuesday’s reading of 272, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Environmental experts attributed the sudden decline to elevated PM2.5 concentrations that accumulated overnight, compounded by shallow to moderate fog on Wednesday morning. Sunil Dahiya, founder of Envirocatalysts, explained that high initial pollution loads prevented effective dispersion despite increasing wind speeds. Major PM2.5 sources include vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and energy production.
The fog reduced visibility to 450 meters at Safdarjung and 600 meters at Palam, causing delays for approximately 500 flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport, though no cancellations or diversions were reported.
Relief appears imminent as the Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts improvement to “moderate” levels from Friday through the weekend. A western disturbance arriving February 5 is expected to enhance surface wind speeds, facilitating better pollutant dispersion across the capital.
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