MONITORING DESK
NEW DELHI: The national capital woke up to another smog-laden morning on Tuesday, with the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 309 at 7 a.m., placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
While the reading shows a slight improvement from Monday’s AQI of 316, air pollution levels continue to pose serious health concerns across several parts of the city.
Data from CPCB monitoring stations indicated wide variations across localities. Lodhi Road and Tilak Marg reported relatively better conditions, with AQI readings around 153, categorized as ‘moderate’. In contrast, ITO and surrounding areas recorded 347, remaining in the ‘very poor’ zone.
The Anand Vihar area continued to be among the most polluted, registering an AQI of 392, while Kartavya Path reported an AQI of 278, falling in the ‘poor’ category — an improvement from 307 recorded the previous day. Akshardham also witnessed heavy haze, with pollution levels hovering around 392.
For reference, AQI levels between 0–50 are considered good, 51–100 satisfactory, 101–200 moderate, 201–300 poor, 301–400 very poor, and 401–500 severe.
In an effort to control dust and particulate matter, civic agencies have deployed truck-mounted water sprinklers and other pollution mitigation measures across key stretches of the city.
Residents and visitors alike expressed distress over the worsening air quality. “It’s quite bad. I could see the smog thickening as I entered Delhi from Agra — even the sun was barely visible,” said Shane, a foreign tourist.
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Local residents also voiced frustration. “There’s constant irritation in the eyes and it’s getting harder to breathe. The government needs to act before it gets worse,” said Saif, a Delhi resident.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city is likely to witness clear skies during the day, though dense smog is expected to persist in the early hours.
