Delhi AQI in ‘severe’ category; remains India’s most polluted city for third day in a row

Delhi's air quality index hits severe levels, exceeding WHO limits, impacting health of residents in NCR and north India.

Delhi continued to be the most polluted place in India – for the third consecutive day – with the overall air quality of the national capital continuing to be in the “severe” category on Wednesday (December 18, 2024) morning, according to official data.

Delhi’s overall 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was 441 (severe) at 9 a.m. on Wednesday (December 18, 2024), as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

The air pollution is – over 16 times – the limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to official data.

The overall level of PM2.5 (a chief pollutant) in Delhi was 248.5 micrograms per cubic meter at 9 a.m. on Wednesday (December 18, 2024), as per the CPCB, which is 16.5 times the WHO’s permissible limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period.

Severe level air pollution “affects healthy people” and “seriously impacts” those with existing diseases, according to CPCB.

Many other cities and towns of the National Capital Region (NCR) and north India also reeled under “very poor” air quality on Wednesday (December 18, 2024) morning.