Delhi Sees Warmer Morning; AQI Remains In ‘Poor’ Category

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Delhi woke up to slightly warmer weather and shallow fog on Monday, signalling a gradual transition towards the end of the winter season.

Air quality remained under stress, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 206 at 7 AM, placing it in the ‘poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Several monitoring stations across the capital reported AQI levels ranging from moderate to poor.

Anand Vihar recorded one of the highest readings at 289, followed by Mundka at 276, Rohini at 260 and Bawana at 259.

Other areas such as ITO (216), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (213), Patparganj (208) and DTU (206) also remained in the poor category.

Relatively better air quality was observed at North Campus (135), IIT Delhi (155) and IGI Airport T3 (179), which fell in the moderate range.

Neighbouring Noida also witnessed unhealthy air, with AQI levels at 237 in Sector-125, 195 in Sector-116, 192 in Sector-1 and 154 in Sector-62.

Understanding the AQI Scale

Under the AQI scale, readings between 201 and 300 are classified as ‘poor’, while levels between 101 and 200 remain ‘moderate’.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, while shallow fog during the morning hours slightly reduced visibility in some areas, without causing major disruptions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast misty conditions from February 10 to February 14, mainly during early mornings and late nights.

Day temperatures will likely hover between 23 and 25 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures may remain between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management said that Delhi, four NCR states and 12 NCR cities have submitted pollution mitigation plans for the year.

Delhi aims to reduce its annual average AQI by 15 per cent in 2026, along with a 15 per cent cut in PM2.5 and a 20 per cent reduction in PM10 levels.

Md Shadan Ayaz