Delhi experienced its coldest morning of the season on Saturday, as the mercury dropped to 7.1° Celsius, three degrees below the season's average while the air quality index dropped to 233 again to the 'poor' category, after a brief respite of three days. Ayanagar was the coldest area which recorded the minimum temperature of 6.6 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature was recorded at 25.4 degree Celsius, one notch above the normal in the national capital.
Meanwhile, the primary pollutants on Saturday were PM2.5 and PM10, with PM2.5 levels recorded at 93.2 µg/m³ and PM10 levels at 185.4 µg/m³ at 2 pm. These fine particles pose significant health risks as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Of the 38 air quality monitoring stations in the city, two reported air quality in the 'very poor' category on Saturday, 30 were in the 'poor' category, and the rest recorded 'moderate' air quality, according to the Sameer App. However, several areas witnessed a “moderate” AQI. It was 194 at Mathura Road, 200 at Delhi Technological University (DTU), 194 at the Karni Singh shooting range and 192 at Dilshad Garden, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Areas such as Alipur (AQI 231), Ashok Vihar (225), Bawana (262), and Burari (274) reported particularly concerning levels. A thin layer of smog engulfed several areas around Delhi-NCR, including India Gate and Barapulla. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, air quality in the city will likely remain in the 'poor' category on Sunday and Monday, while it is expected to deteriorate to 'very poor' on Tuesday. Delhi's air quality has been reeling in “very severe”, “severe”, “very poor” and “poor” categories post Diwali.
IQ Air real time data showed AQI at 157 while PM2.5 concentration is currently 12.9 times the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline value.
However, hyperlocal analysis of different hotspots revealed that the Chandpur Village, northwest Delhi was the highest polluted area at 391 µg/m3, followed by President’s Estate in central Delhi at 385 µg/m3 and Bavana at 373 µg/m3.