On Tuesday morning, Delhi faced persistent air quality challenges as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached the \”severe\” category, continuing despite previous rain clearing the toxic haze. The national capital\’s AQI had dipped to \”very poor\” post-Diwali, with the combination of firecracker smoke and air pollution from stubble burning in northern India, especially in areas now categorized as severe.
At 6 AM, RK Puram reported an AQI of 417, while Punjabi Bagh recorded 410, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). ITO registered an AQI of 430, and Jahangirpuri stood at 428.
The AQI scale classifies air quality as follows: 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.\”
The 24-hour average AQI for Delhi on Monday was reported at 358 (very poor), according to the CPCB. In comparison, in the previous years, the AQI on Diwali day was 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016, based on CPCB data.