Delhi AQI hits 85-day high as Afghanistan dust pushes air into poor category

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jul 12, 2026 20:08 IST

Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'poor' category on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising to 261, the highest level recorded in more than 85 days. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the decline was caused by transnational dust carried by long-range winds from storm activity in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, along with strong winds over the Indo-Gangetic plain.

The weather also remained uncomfortable in the capital, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) putting the feels-like temperature at 45.7 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm. The maximum temperature was recorded at 36.8 degrees Celsius, which was 1.3 degrees above normal, while the minimum settled at 28.3 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal.

The AQI on Sunday was the highest since April 17, when it had stood at 263. A day earlier, Delhi had recorded an AQI of 140, while for most of the month the air quality had remained in the 'moderate' and 'satisfactory' categories. The CAQM said the dust moving towards northwestern India, including Delhi, had led to elevated PM10 concentrations. It added that Delhi's air quality was likely to remain in the 'poor' category over the next few days before improving after the transnational dust spell subsides.

The CAQM said it had decided not to invoke GRAP Stage-I curbs because the current deterioration was linked to transnational dust. However, it directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to step up dust control measures on the ground. According to Central Pollution Control Board standards, an AQI between zero and 50 is classified as 'good', 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 as 'moderate', 201 to 300 as 'poor', 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and 401 to 500 as 'severe'.

Among other weather readings, Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 37 degrees Celsius, Ridge 36 degrees Celsius and Ayanagar 36.2 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures were 27.1 degrees Celsius at Palam, 27.2 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 25.6 degrees Celsius at Ridge and 27.4 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar. Relative humidity ranged from 64 per cent at 8.30 am to 52 per cent at 5.30 pm. The IMD has forecast strong surface winds during the day on Monday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 37 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius respectively.

In summary, Delhi saw a sharp rise in air pollution levels on Sunday as dust-laden winds pushed the AQI into the 'poor' range, while hot and humid conditions kept the city feeling much warmer than the actual temperature.

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With PTI inputs