Delhi woke up to slightly cleaner air and better AQI on Sunday morning, but the relief was gentle, not dramatic. The city is breathing a little easier, yet the familiar haze has not fully left the streets.
Delhi AQI shows small improvement
At 7 am on Sunday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 196, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is a step up from Saturday evening, when the AQI was recorded at 227 at 4 pm, firmly in the ‘poor’ range.
For a city that often struggles with choking pollution, even a small drop feels noticeable. However, experts say this improvement should be seen as temporary and limited.
Pollution hotspots still struggling
Several areas in Delhi continue to suffer from poor air quality. Mundka topped the pollution chart with an AQI of 266, making it the most polluted area in the city on Sunday morning. Close behind were Pusa (257), Narela (247), Rohini (247), and Ashok Vihar (243).
Other neighbourhoods such as Jahangirpuri (242), Wazirpur (239), Nehru Nagar (237), Shadipur (236), Bawana (231), and Vivek Vihar (231) also remained in the ‘poor’ category. Even historic and busy zones like Chandni Chowk, which recorded an AQI of 220, could not escape polluted air.
Some relief in greener pockets
Not all parts of Delhi were equally affected. Sri Aurobindo Marg recorded the lowest AQI at 126 offering relatively cleaner air. Other areas with better readings included IGI Airport (131), Aya Nagar (136), Lodhi Road (139), Major Dhyan Chand Stadium (140), IIT Delhi (141), Mandir Marg (145).
These areas stayed within the ‘moderate’ category giving residents small but welcome break from harsher pollution levels.
Smog still lingers
Despite the improved numbers, a thin layer of smog was still visible across many parts of the city. Early morning commuters noticed hazy roads and dull skies.
Sunday’s readings were similar to Saturday’s data. On Saturday, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 260, while RK Puram stood at 237, both in the ‘poor’ category. Busy areas like ITO saw AQI levels of 223, and Chandni Chowk was at 232.
Understanding AQI levels
According to official classification, AQI readings are divided as follows:
0-50: Good
51-100: Satisfactory
101-200: Moderate
201-300: Poor
301-400: Very Poor
401-500: Severe
Most of Delhi continues to hover between moderate and poor, which can still cause discomfort, especially for children, elderly people, and those with breathing problems.
Weather outlook for the day
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a maximum temperature of 23°C and a minimum of 10°C for Sunday. Mist is also expected during the day, which could affect visibility and air quality.
For now, Delhi enjoys a slight pause from extreme pollution but the battle for clean air clearly continues.