New Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of fog and fluctuating weather on Friday, as air pollution continued to trouble large parts of the national capital. Reduced visibility, overcast skies, and cooler temperatures marked the morning, while air quality remained a major concern for residents.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 231 at 6:00 am, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. Although recent rainfall has helped slightly improve pollution levels, several areas of the city continued to record worrying numbers.
Out of 39 air quality monitoring stations, 13 stations reported ‘moderate’ air quality, while 22 remained in the ‘poor’ range. Some locations slipped into the ‘very poor’ category, with Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Nehru Nagar, and Siri Fort recording AQI levels above 300.
Other areas also showed elevated pollution levels, including Anand Vihar (291), Dwarka Sector-8 (290), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (282), Rohini (276), and Sonia Vihar (269). In contrast, a few locations such as Lodhi Road (132) and Narela (144) recorded relatively better air quality in the ‘moderate’ range.
Neighbouring regions also mirrored Delhi’s pollution trend. In Noida, AQI readings ranged from 183 in Sector-62 to 264 in Sectors 1 and 116, indicating continued poor to moderate air quality across the National Capital Region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more unstable weather in the coming days. Another western disturbance is expected to affect northwest India from February 2, bringing cloud cover, rainfall, and temperature fluctuations. The IMD has also issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall on January 31 and February 1.
Minimum temperatures are likely to dip by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius over the next two days, followed by a gradual rise. Delhi has already recorded its highest January rainfall in four years, adding to concerns over visibility, weather disruptions, and public health.
