Delhi: Delhi witnessed a modest improvement in air quality on Thursday morning, with pollution levels dropping into the ‘poor’ range, offering limited relief to residents. However, the national capital continued to struggle with harsh winter conditions as biting cold winds and dense fog kept temperatures unusually low for the second straight day.
Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board indicated that the city’s overall Air Quality Index stood at 279 around 7 am. While this marked an improvement compared to the previous morning, when pollution levels were categorised as ‘very poor’, air quality across large parts of the city remained a matter of concern.
Several neighbourhoods continued to report dangerously high pollution levels. Nehru Nagar emerged as one of the most affected areas, with the AQI remaining deep in the ‘very poor’ bracket. Other pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri and R.K. Puram, all of which recorded AQI readings well above the 300 mark.
Central and densely populated zones also fared poorly. Areas such as Chandni Chowk, Vivek Vihar and regions near the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range continued to experience heavy pollution, along with Sirifort, Okhla Phase-2, Dwarka Sector 8 and Wazirpur.
In other parts of the city, air quality showed marginal recovery but stayed close to unhealthy levels. Patparganj, Pusa, Rohini and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium remained just below the ‘very poor’ threshold, while locations like Sonia Vihar, Mundka, Ashok Vihar and Punjabi Bagh recorded AQI levels near the upper end of the ‘poor’ category.
Some pockets, particularly in southern Delhi and near the city’s outskirts, reported comparatively cleaner air. IIT Delhi, CRRI Mathura Road, Aya Nagar and North Campus of Delhi University saw AQI readings in the lower ‘poor’ range. Areas such as Lodhi Road, Mandir Marg and the IGI Airport zone showed further improvement, edging closer to safer levels.
Bawana stood out as the only location in the capital to register ‘moderate’ air quality, offering a rare bright spot amid otherwise unhealthy conditions.
Despite the slight dip in pollution, meteorological conditions continued to pose challenges. Thick fog reduced visibility in several areas, while cold wave conditions kept daytime temperatures subdued. Authorities have advised residents, particularly children, the elderly and those with respiratory issues, to limit outdoor exposure as winter pollution and cold weather persist across the region.
