New Delhi: The air quality remained in the poor category for the second consecutive day with an AQI of 223 Thursday. It was slightly higher at 245 the previous day. The air quality is likely to stay in the poor range over the next few days.The actual contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s PM2.5 was unavailable for Thursday, but it was estimated to be around 7.4%.Sunil Dahiya, founder of think tank Envirocatalyst, said, “Delhi’s high baseload of emissions, topped up by Dussehra firecrackers, has pushed PM2.5 levels to nearly three times what they were a few days ago. With calm, cooler northwesterly winds trapping pollution and carrying in smoke from stubble burning alongside emissions from industry, power plants and transport, things are likely to get worse in the coming weeks.”He added that only strict measures taken in advance to cut pollution at source, across Delhi and the wider airshed, could prevent a hazardous winter.Delhi’s AQI was 226 at 8am Thursday but it dipped marginally to 223 at 4pm when the 24-hour average bulletin is released by Central Pollution Control Board. It improved slightly to 220 at 8pm.According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, which functions under the Union ministry of earth sciences, the air quality is expected to remain in the poor category till Saturday and probably for the next six days.After the air quality worsened to the poor range for the first time this season Wednesday, Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage I measures under Graded Response Action Plan.In Oct last year, AQI worsened to the poor range on Oct 14 at 211. It further deteriorated to the very poor category by Oct 20 at 345. In Oct 2024, the air quality entered the poor band by Oct 13 at 224 and the very poor range by Oct 21 at 310.
