Air quality in Delhi remains ‘very poor’ with AQI 335; mercury drops to 11°C

New Delhi: The national capital on Saturday recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 335 at 9 am placing Delhi in the 'red zone' and making it the most polluted city in the country, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

PM2.5 remained the key pollutant on Saturday. Since Diwali, the national capital's air quality has been either 'poor' or 'very poor', occasionally worsening to 'severe'.

Delhi's temperatures continued to dip, with the mercury settling at 11 degrees Celsius, three notches below the seasonal average.

The city recorded a maximum temperature of 28.6 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In comparison, the city had recorded minimum temperatures of 9.5 degrees Celsius on October 29 last year, 9.2 degrees Celsius on October 23 in 2023, and 7.3 degrees Celsius on October 29 in 2022, indicating a slightly delayed onset of winter this year.

The IMD has forecast mainly clear sky for the day.