Delhi air quality improves as AQI drops to 234; deterioration likely in coming days

he superior breathed somewhat easier for the 2nd consecutive day, with the aerial prime improving to the 'poor' class and an AQI of 234 recorded connected Thursday (December 24, 2025).

Transport emissions and contamination from neighbouring cities continued to lend importantly to the capital's aerial contamination load, according to authoritative data.

Delhi's 24-hour mean aerial prime scale (AQI) stood astatine 234 astatine 4 p.m., remaining successful the 'poor' category, compared to 271 recorded astatine the aforesaid clip a time earlier, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

This marked a important betterment from the 'severe' AQI of 412 recorded astatine 4 p.m connected Tuesday (December 23, 2025).

Out of the 40 functional aerial prime monitoring stations successful the city, 10 recorded mean AQI levels beneath 200, including Lodhi Road, IIT Delhi, Indira Gandhi International Airport and Aya Nagar, portion 27 stations remained successful the mediocre category.

Two stations — Jahangirpuri and Bawana — recorded precise mediocre aerial prime with AQI readings supra 300.

As per the CPCB classification, an AQI betwixt 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor' and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management showed vehicular emissions were the largest contributor to Delhi's contamination load connected Wednesday, accounting for 18.5 per cent.

This was followed by industries successful Delhi and adjoining areas (9.5 per cent), operation activities (2.5%) and discarded burning (1.6%).

Among the NCR districts, Jhajjar successful Haryana contributed the highest stock to Delhi's contamination astatine 17.6%, followed by Rohtak (5.9%) and Sonipat (3.1 %), the information showed.

The predominant aboveground upwind was from the northwest, with upwind speeds reaching up to 10 kmph during day hours connected Thursday, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System.

The aerial prime is apt to deteriorate to the precise mediocre class successful the coming days, according to the forecast.

On the upwind front, Delhi recorded a maximum somesthesia of 22.6 degrees Celsius connected Wednesday, 1.9 degrees supra normal, portion the minimum somesthesia settled astatine 6.5 degrees Celsius, somewhat beneath normal, the India Meteorological Department said.

Relative humidity stood astatine 63% astatine 8.30 a.m. and 84% astatine 5.30 p.m.

The IMD forecast a minimum somesthesia of 8 degrees Celsius connected Friday (December 26, 2025), with mean fog expected.