Delhi air quality turns very poor as AQI reaches 330 ahead of Diwali

Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor category on the morning of 3 November 2026, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index at 330 according to Central Pollution Control Board data at 8 a.m. Several monitoring stations recorded severe readings above 400. The deterioration comes days before Diwali.

Rohini recorded 429, Punjabi Bagh 424 and Bawana 408, all in the severe category. Other stations in the very poor range included Patparganj at 379, RK Puram at 374, ITO at 373 and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 355. Jahangirpuri reached 452 in some reports. Noida stood at 307, while Gurugram and Ghaziabad remained in the poor category.

The Commission for Air Quality Management had activated Graded Response Action Plan Stage-II measures across the Delhi-NCR. These include restrictions on certain construction activities, enhanced dust control and vehicle checks. Stubble burning in neighbouring states and the approach of the festival season, when firecrackers are traditionally used, add to emissions from vehicles, industry and dust.

The Air Quality Early Warning System projected that overall air quality would stay in the very poor category for the next two days. On Monday the daily average stood at 324, up from 261 the previous day. Some locations such as IGI Airport Terminal 3 recorded lower readings in the poor category, around 287. The pattern shows sharp local variation within the city.

Health authorities advise sensitive groups, including children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor exposure when AQI exceeds 300. Schools and outdoor activities face practical constraints under prolonged very poor or severe conditions. The current spike follows the usual seasonal pattern in which winds drop and temperature inversions trap pollutants.

Authorities have stepped up water sprinkling and enforcement of pollution control norms. Whether the readings climb further in the days immediately before and after Diwali will depend on the volume of firecracker use, the intensity of stubble burning, and any change in meteorological conditions. The CPCB continues to publish station-level data every hour.