Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, with five monitoring stations recorded air quality index (AQI) levels above 300.
A similar air quality forecast has been issued for the coming days, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.
On Wednesday, five out of the 38 monitoring stations in the capital recorded air quality in the ‘very poor’ category.
Among them, Anand Vihar reported the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) at 345, followed by Wazirpur (325), Dwarka Sector 8 (314), and DU North Campus and CRRI Mathura Road (both at 307), according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), 20 moniting stations reported AQI in the ‘poor’ category, while 13 recorded AQI in the ‘moderate’ range. The 24-hour average AQI for Delhi was recorded at 233, placing it in the ‘poor’ category, data showed.
Transport emissions remained the biggest contributor to air pollution on Wednesday, accounting for 16.7 per cent of total emissions, according to data from the Decision Support System (DSS). Additionally, 136 stubble burning incidents were detected by satellites across six states on Wednesday, including 46 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Punjab, seven in Haryana, and one in Delhi, the data showed.
The worsening AQI comes just a day after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the Delhi-NCR region on Tuesday.
GRAP-1 comes into effect when the AQI range falls between 200 and 300.
Under this stage, 27 preventive actions are to be strictly implemented by all relevant agencies across NCR. These include the use of anti-smog guns, water sprinkling, dust suppression measures in road construction, repair projects and maintenance activities.
"The Sub-Committee on, in its meeting held today, reviewed the air quality scenario in the region, IMD/IITM forecast and observed as under: The AQI of Delhi has been recorded 211 on 14.10.2025 (‘Poor’ Category). Furthermore, the forecast by IMD/IIT M has also predicted AQI to remain in the ‘Poor’ category in the coming days," CAQM said in its order.
According to the CPCB, an AQI from 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. The maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 32.5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 0.7 notch below normal, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 18.3 degrees Celsius, 1.3 notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD has forecast mainly clear skies for Thursday, with the minimum and maximum temperatures likely to hover around 17 and 32 degrees Celsius, respectively.
