Delhi’s air quality index reached 245 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the first poor reading of the season, according to Outlook India and The Statesman.
The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked GRAP Stage I, with measures on dust, diesel generators, tandoor coal and non-compliant interstate buses.
Reports differ slightly on the readings for October 21 and 22.
Forecasts say the air will stay in the poor range in the coming days.
Coal use in hotel and restaurant tandoors is restricted, and diesel generators are permitted only in emergencies, according to the reports.
Entry of intercity and interstate buses from several northern states is banned if they do not meet BS-VI norms and do not run on electricity or compressed natural gas, according to Outlook India.
Public transport has been expanded, including extra CNG and electric buses, and the Delhi Metro added 20 weekday trips from Thursday, according to the same report.
Delhi Traffic Police urged commuters to use public transport or carpool and reminded motorists to keep valid Pollution Under Control certificates.
Skymet’s Mahesh Palawat cited falling night temperatures and light winds, which trap traffic, industrial and dust emissions, according to Outlook India.
Envirocatalyst’s Sunil Dahiya pointed to slow north-westerly winds carrying farm fire smoke and festive emissions, according to the same report.
Firecrackers and Ravana effigy burning on Dussehra contributed, according to Outlook India.
Stubble burning contributed an estimated 3.9% of Delhi’s PM2.5 on Wednesday, and the Decision Support System projects 7.4% on Thursday, 15.9% on Friday and 4.1% on Saturday, according to the report.
On Friday, October 23, the reading at 8 am was 223, in the poor category, according to Asianet News, with Bawana at 275 and Patparganj at 298.
The India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology forecast that the AQI will stay in the poor range in the coming days, according to Outlook India.
Air pollution in Delhi (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
