Delhi's air quality plummets to 'very poor' as Diwali nears

The national capital recorded an average Air Quality Index of 369 on Saturday as thick smog blanketed the city ahead of Diwali festivities. While this represented a marginal improvement from Friday's reading of 382, the air quality index remained perilously close to the 400 mark that signals 'severe' conditions, with visibility substantially reduced across Delhi.

Data from 59 monitoring stations revealed a sharp polarisation in air quality across the city. Sixteen stations recorded 'severe' category readings, while 29 registered 'very poor' levels. The worst air quality was measured near IIT Delhi, which recorded an AQI of 452. Several other monitoring points have also breached the severe threshold of 400, indicating widespread deterioration in atmospheric conditions across the capital.

Air quality forecasters predict conditions will worsen significantly through the Diwali period. The Air Quality Early Warning System projects that Delhi will experience 'severe' air quality on November 8 and 9, coinciding with peak festival celebrations. This convergence of factors—fireworks, increased vehicular traffic, and an ongoing stubble-burning season in neighbouring states—is expected to compound pollution levels substantially.