New Delhi:
Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, as wind speeds dropped once again, allowing pollutants to settle over the city. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 353 at 4 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — marking the highest AQI recorded so far this season.

Pollution levels worsen as winds drop

The city woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Wednesday, with visibility reducing during early morning hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said wind speeds failed to breach 7 km/hr, preventing effective dispersion of pollutants.

“The wind direction changed from easterly to westerly, but there was no significant change in the wind speed. Nights are almost calm, and during the day, speeds go up only to 5-7 km/hr,” said Krishna Mishra, a senior IMD scientist.

Although a weak western disturbance is expected around October 27, Mishra said it would be too feeble to cause any substantial change. “No major rainfall or increase in wind speed is likely,” he added.

Forecast shows continued ‘very poor’ air

According to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS), the AQI is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ range till Saturday, oscillating between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ in the following days.

The CPCB’s classification defines AQI between 301–400 as very poor and anything above 400 as severe. On Wednesday, data showed that out of 39 active monitoring stations, three recorded AQI readings in the severe category.

The most affected areas included:

  • Nehru Nagar (411) – which had also recorded an alarming PM 2.5 peak of 1,763 µg/m³ on Diwali day.
  • Punjabi Bagh (406)
  • Wazirpur (406)

Only three locations — Lodhi Road (230), DTU (216), and IGI Airport (294) — reported AQI below 300, offering a small pocket of relative relief.

Weather remains stable but stagnant

Delhi’s maximum temperature on Wednesday was 32.1°C, one degree below normal, while the minimum of 21.8°C was three degrees above normal. IMD officials expect both day and night temperatures to remain largely unchanged till the weekend.

Calm winds and temperature inversions at night are further trapping pollutants close to the surface, experts said, worsening the smog cover.

Tuesday marked the sixth most polluted day of 2025

An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that Tuesday was the sixth most polluted day of the year, with the previous five all occurring in January.

Delhi’s 24-hour average PM 2.5 concentration on Tuesday was 241 µg/m³ — a level nearly four times higher than the national safe limit. The most polluted day of the year so far was January 9, when PM 2.5 levels touched 273 µg/m³.

“This is the most polluted spell of the year after January,” said Manoj Kumar, a CREA researcher. “In October, the combination of post-Diwali emissions, crop residue burning, and stagnant weather conditions creates a perfect storm for pollution buildup.”

Authorities on alert

Officials have indicated that while GRAP Stage-3 restrictions are not being implemented yet, measures such as dust control, construction regulation, and vehicle checks are being reinforced. Delhi residents are being urged to avoid outdoor physical activity during peak pollution hours and to use N95 masks when stepping out.

Conclusion

With calm winds and no major weather change expected till next week, Delhi is likely to remain under a toxic haze. Experts warn that unless wind speeds increase or significant rain arrives, the city’s air quality will remain in the ‘very poor’ category through the weekend — marking one of the season’s earliest and most persistent pollution spells.