NEW DELHI, October 28, 2026 – Ringing alarm bells for the residents of the national capital ahead of the peak winter season, Delhi’s air quality sharply deteriorated, slipping into the ‘poor’ category on Wednesday morning.
According to the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 232. This marks a significant decline from Tuesday, when the AQI was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category at 168.
Visuals from various parts of the city, including the Akshardham Temple premises, showed a thick layer of haze blanketing the skyline on Wednesday morning, reducing visibility and signaling the onset of seasonal pollution woes.
Under the CPCB’s standardized classification, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 is classified as ‘severe’. The current reading of 232 squarely places the capital’s breathing air in the poor zone, prompting health concerns for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues.
The dip in air quality coincides with falling temperatures across the region. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature at the Safdarjung observatory settled at 15.7 degrees Celsius. Other weather stations also recorded cooler temperatures, with Palam logging 15.5 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road at 16.2 degrees Celsius, the Ridge at 16.5 degrees Celsius, and Ayanagar recording the lowest at 14.8 degrees Celsius.
As temperatures continue to drop and wind speeds remain relatively calm, the dispersion of pollutants is expected to slow down further, which may worsen the air quality index in the coming days.
Published by True Roots Media Network