Delhi-NCR Air Quality Slips Into Unhealthy Category as AQI Reaches 168

Delhi-NCR's air quality slipped into the unhealthy category, with the overall Air Quality Index reaching 168. The deterioration occurred on October 25, alongside the return of toxic white foam on the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj.

PM2.5 and PM10 were the dominant air pollutants across the region. The air-quality reading at PGDAV College in Sriniwaspuri was as low as around 110. Several other Delhi monitoring stations recorded readings between 118 and more than 180.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on October 21. The deterioration prompted the commission to impose GRAP Stage 1 to curb air pollution.

Under GRAP Stage 1, the use of coal and firewood is banned in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open-air eateries. Diesel-generator use is restricted to essential or emergency purposes.

Toxic white foam reappeared on the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj. Visuals from Kalindi Kunj showed massive blankets of toxic white foam across the water's surface.

The foam's return came days after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta highlighted roughly ₹9,000 crore of inaugurated projects for Yamuna rejuvenation. Gupta said the Yamuna should be clean and flowing uninterrupted in a few years, and that the administration was working day and night to fulfil that resolve.