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Delhi Records Most Polluted October Start in Four Years, AQI at 166
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News18•01-10-2026, 20:15
Delhi Records Most Polluted October Start in Four Years, AQI at 166
- •Delhi experienced its most polluted start to October in four years, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 166, categorized as 'moderate'.
- •The last time Delhi recorded a higher AQI on October 1 was in 2022, when it reached 186, also in the 'moderate' category.
- •37 out of 44 monitoring stations in the national capital reported 'moderate' air quality, while five were 'poor' and two 'satisfactory'.
- •The Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts Delhi's air quality to remain 'moderate' from October 2-4, and 'moderate' to 'satisfactory' for the following six days.
- •Stubble burning incidents were recorded in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, contributing to regional air pollution.
Key Questions Answered
Delhi recorded its most polluted start to October in four years on Thursday, with the AQI settling at 166 in the 'moderate' category. The last time the national capital recorded a higher AQI on October 1 was in 2022, when the index stood at 186.
Out of the 44 monitoring stations in Delhi, 37 recorded air quality in the 'moderate' category, five stations were in the 'poor' category, and two stations fell into the 'satisfactory' category.
The Air Quality Early Warning System reported a ventilation index of less than 6,000 square metres per second and an average wind speed of less than 10 kmph, which are unfavourable conditions that cause pollutants to accumulate near the surface.
