Delhi’s Air Quality Remains ‘Very Poor’ for Fourth Straight Day; AQI at 328 post Diwali

October 23, 2025

New Delhi: Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the fourth consecutive day, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). On Wednesday morning at 8 a.m., the national capital recorded an AQI of 328, days after Diwali festivities filled the skies with smog.

AQI Touches Seasonal High

On October 22, Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI reached 353 at 4 p.m. — the highest level recorded this season — up from 351 on October 21 and 345 on October 20.

NCR Cities Also Choke

Air quality across the Delhi-NCR region remained unhealthy. Gurugram recorded an AQI of 280, while Ghaziabad’s was 324. Noida and Greater Noida reported AQIs of 336 and 316 respectively, all falling under the ‘very poor’ category.

Anand Vihar continued to be the most polluted area, recording an AQI of 428 on Thursday morning. Akshardham registered 350, while the area around the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recorded 342, according to CPCB data.

Smog Lingers as Winds Slow

A dense smog shrouded the city through the day, with wind speeds failing to exceed 7 kmph, hindering the dispersion of pollutants. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said no immediate relief is expected, as meteorological conditions remain unfavourable for air clearing in the coming days.

Wind speeds briefly improved on October 22, helping disperse firecracker emissions, but declined again as temperatures dropped. Forecasts from the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) suggest that Delhi’s AQI will remain in the ‘very poor’ range until Saturday and may fluctuate between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ for the following week.

GRAP Stage-II Measures in Force

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed that all actions under Stage I and Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) be strictly enforced across the National Capital Region.

Authorities have been instructed to intensify dust control operations, monitor construction and demolition sites, and ensure compliance with citizen guidelines under GRAP. The CAQM has emphasised the need for strict implementation to prevent further deterioration in air quality.