Delhi’s air quality took a nosedive on Friday morning, October 13, as the city woke up to an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 190, classifying it as ‘moderate,’ according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). However, specific areas within the city faced harsher conditions, with IIT Delhi and Delhi Airport T3 recording AQI levels of 169 and 204 respectively, both falling under the 'poor' category.

The situation was grimmer near Delhi University, where the AQI soared to 313, marking it as ‘very poor.’ Noida experienced a ‘poor’ AQI of 214, while Gurugram fared comparatively better with a ‘moderate’ AQI of 127.

Meanwhile, the national capital recorded the lowest minimum temperature of the season as the mercury dropped to 16.4 degrees Celsius. This was the lowest minimum temperature for Delhi in the first half of October since 1962, according to a Times of India report. The dipping temperature is likely to further deteriorate air quality in the city.

The declining air quality is said to be the result of the onset of stubble burning in neighbouring states. According to a Hindustan Times report, on Wednesday, Delhi's PM 2.5 concentration showed a 3% contribution from stubble burning, a sharp contrast from the preceding four days when it remained at zero percent. SAFAR predicts that farm fires will continue impacting air quality until an approaching western disturbance alters wind patterns from October 14-17.

Data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) paints a grim picture, indicating a significant surge in farm fires this year compared to the same period in 2022. Punjab recorded 1,063 farm fires, while Haryana reported 340 fires, highlighting the alarming increase in stubble-burning incidents.

In 2022, around this time, data from SAFAR showed that stubble burning did not contribute to Delhi's air pollution on October 7 and 8. On October 9, it accounted for 3%, and on October 10 and 11, it was 2%. By October 12, it rose to 4% before dropping back to 2% the following day. Surprisingly, these contributions stayed in single digits until October 28. Then, there was a sudden spike, reaching 7% on that day and jumping to 21% the next. This increase typically happens in late October and early November when harvesting peaks. During this period, weather conditions, such as low temperatures and calm winds, tend to worsen the situation.

In response to the escalating pollution levels, the Supreme Court has sought a comprehensive report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) regarding the measures taken to combat air pollution in Delhi and its vicinity.

“We call upon the CAQM to urgently submit a report as to the steps being taken for control of air pollution in and around the capital,” the SC bench said, the Mint report mentioned.

The central government has already initiated the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from October 1, which outlines various stages based on AQI levels. The plan categorizes air quality from ‘poor’ to ‘severe plus,’ enabling the implementation of appropriate measures to curb pollution.