Delhi AQI Reaches Severe Level of 428: First Critical Air Pollution Day of 2025

An AQI between 401 and 500 is categorized as "severe" on the air quality scale.

New Delhi:

On Tuesday, Delhi experienced its first "severe" air quality day of the year, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a concerning 428, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The air quality, which had been consistently in the "very poor" category for several days prior, deteriorated to the "severe" classification early Tuesday morning. This significant decline was attributed to stagnant weather conditions and accumulating local emissions that contributed to escalating pollution levels across the city.

This marks the first instance in 2025 that Delhi's AQI has entered the "severe" range. According to CPCB data, the last time the capital city experienced such hazardous air quality was in December 2024.

Health experts warn that an AQI reading between 401 and 500, classified as "severe," poses substantial risks to public health. Such high pollution levels can negatively impact even healthy individuals and may cause serious respiratory complications for people with pre-existing medical conditions.