Delhi experiences some of the sharpest AQI swings in India because the city is landlocked and ringed by industrial clusters. Winter stubble burning in neighbouring states, heavy traffic, and calm winds combine to trap fine particulate matter over the capital.
Key Pollution Drivers
Vehicular emissions and resuspended dust along the Ring Road and arterial corridors
Seasonal crop residue burning across Punjab and Haryana that drifts toward the city
Coal-fired power plants and industrial units in the National Capital Region
Seasonal Patterns
October to January sees persistent smog with PM2.5 dominating the AQI for days at a time
Pre-monsoon dust storms raise PM10 levels, especially in western boroughs
Summer ozone levels rise on sunny afternoons when traffic and heat interact
Station Highlights
Station-level information will appear once the network shares live readings.
Pollutant Breakdown
Pollutant-level information will populate when stations share detailed readings.
Health Advisory
Use indoor air purifiers overnight during winter and ventilate briefly during mid-day when AQI dips
Schools, joggers, and delivery workers should shift activity to late mornings on high pollution days
Individuals with cardiac conditions should monitor blood oxygen levels and stay hydrated
Local Actions & Resources
Follow advisories from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Graded Response Action Plan alerts
Prefer metro, e-rickshaws, or carpooling during severe episodes to cut road congestion
Support housing societies that install mechanical dust suppression and maintain green belts
Trend Explorer
Use the interactive charts below to analyse pollutant trends across different time ranges. Switch between pollutants to determine which one drives the overall AQI during specific hours of the day.