Delhi AQI today: Air quality remains 'very poor', volcanic ash ruled out in pollution crisis

Delhi AQI

A thick, hazardous haze descended upon Delhi-NCR this week, marking the definitive return of the capital’s annual pollution crisis as air quality indices soared into the ‘very poor’ category.

By Wednesday, the air quality index (AQI) in the Bawana area had reached a high of 382, creating a palpable and unhealthy environment. The smog-laden air poses a significant health risk, particularly for children, the elderly and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

Visuals from the capital’s iconic Kartavya Path captured the severity of the situation, with early morning walkers and joggers moving through a dense, greyish haze. The familiar winter chill has been accompanied by a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, leaving the city under a dim, smoggy blanket.

Amid the deteriorating conditions, authorities moved to allay concerns regarding the potential impact of volcanic ash clouds from Ethiopia, which had been drifting towards the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that these plumes have had a negligible effect on Delhi's ground-level pollution.

IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that the ash clouds were moving away from India and towards China by Tuesday evening. He clarified that while the plumes, located in the upper-tropospheric region at heights of 10-15km, may have necessitated some flight adjustments, they had no impact on surface-level air quality.

Echoing this assessment, the civil aviation ministry reported only minor disruptions, with a handful of flights being rerouted or instructed to fly at lower altitudes as a precautionary measure. The ministry emphasised there was no widespread cause for concern for air travel.

The report from the IMD underscores that the current ‘very poor’ air quality, which saw an AQI of 353 on Tuesday, is a domestic issue, largely driven by local pollutants and seasonal factors rather than the international volcanic event. The primary culprit remains a toxic blend of emissions that becomes trapped close to the ground as colder weather sets in.

With the external factor of volcanic ash now ruled out as a significant contributor, the focus returns squarely to the entrenched and complex pollution sources within the National Capital Region, leaving residents to face yet another season of dangerously polluted air.