Delhi's air quality U-turn: Poor conditions replace recent gains

Delhi's air quality has taken a downturn, remaining in the 'poor' category for the second consecutive day. This decline follows a brief period of improvement, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded its best levels in four months. As of February 17, 2025, the AQI stood at 250 at 8 AM, a stark contrast to the recent low of 131 just days earlier.

Unfavorable Weather Conditions

The deterioration in air quality is attributed to unfavorable weather conditions. A partly cloudy sky and lower wind speeds have hindered pollutant dispersion, exacerbating pollution levels. Factors such as changes in mixing height have also contributed to this issue, trapping pollutants closer to the ground.

Current AQI Levels Across Delhi-NCR

Air quality across the Delhi-NCR region has significantly worsened, with Gurugram recording an AQI of 305, categorized as 'very poor'. In Noida and Ghaziabad, AQI levels were noted at 229 and 207, respectively. These figures indicate a concerning trend for residents who had recently experienced improved air quality.

Weather Update

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there has been a slight drop in minimum temperature, now at 14.05 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures have risen to approximately 29.26 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity is recorded at 17%, with wind speeds around 17 km/hr. Shallow fog is expected in the mornings, with rain forecasted for February 19 and 2015.

Ongoing Anti-Pollution Measures

To combat the declining air quality, actions under Stages I and II of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) are still in effect. These measures aim to prevent further deterioration of air quality following previous improvements that led to the revocation of stricter Stage III measures earlier this month.