NEW DELHI: The air quality in the national capital deteriorated to the higher end of the ‘Moderate’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 187, the highest level recorded in nearly three months, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) 24-hour bulletin.Data from the pollution control board showed that particulate matter 10 (PM10) remained the prominent pollutant across the city, based on readings from 43 of the 46 active ambient air quality monitoring stations, news agency ANI reported.An AQI between 101 and 200 is categorised as ‘Moderate’. The CPCB says this level can cause “breathing discomfort to people with lung, asthma, and heart diseases.”According to the CPCB, an AQI of zero to 50 is considered ‘Good’, 51 to 100 ‘Satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘Moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘Poor’, 301 to 400 ‘Very Poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘Severe’.Air quality in neighbouring NCR areas was worse, with several cities falling into the ‘Poor’ category.Noida recorded an AQI of 281, Ghaziabad 248 and Faridabad 224, with PM10 and PM2.5 identified as the primary pollutants. Gurgaon and Greater Noida recorded ‘Moderate’ air quality, with AQIs of 166 and 171, respectively, ANI reported.On the weather front, dry and warm conditions prevailed over Delhi.According to the India Meteorological Department‘s (IMD) past 24-hour overview, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 36.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 2.2 degrees above normal for this time of the season. The minimum temperature was 23.8 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees above the seasonal average.Relative humidity was recorded at 51%, with no rainfall reported over the past 24 hours.According to the weather department’s seven-day forecast, Delhi is likely to see mainly clear skies on Monday, followed by isolated thunderstorms with rain that could bring temporary respite on Tuesday.Partly cloudy conditions are expected to prevail through the rest of the week.The recent rise in pollution levels comes after Delhi recorded its lowest monthly average AQI for September in five years, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on September 30.The ministry said Delhi’s monthly average AQI for September 2026 stood at 102, lower than the corresponding figures for the previous five years.The average AQI was 105 in September 2025, 105 in 2024, 108 in 2023 and 104 in 2022.The ministry also said the January-September period of 2026 recorded the highest number of days with a daily average AQI below 200, categorised as ‘Moderate’, in the last five years.Delhi recorded 194 such days in 2026, compared with 187 days in 2025, 188 in 2024, 193 in 2023 and 146 in 2022, ANI reported.The January-September period also saw the lowest number of ‘Poor to Severe+’ air quality days in five years, with 79 days recorded this year. Delhi recorded 86 such days in both 2025 and 2024, 80 in 2023 and 127 in 2022.The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is working with various stakeholders to take measures for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and improve air quality in Delhi-NCR, the ministry said.“These efforts will be further intensified with an endeavour to improve the air quality scenario in Delhi-NCR in the coming days,” the ministry added.The statement came ahead of the winter season, when Delhi-NCR generally witnesses a deterioration in air quality due to multiple factors, including meteorological conditions and emission sources.(With agency inputs)
