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Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates to 'Moderate' with AQI 187, Highest in Three Months
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News18•05-10-2026, 10:00
Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates to 'Moderate' with AQI 187, Highest in Three Months
- •Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 187, categorised as 'Moderate', marking the highest level in nearly three months.
- •Particulate matter 10 (PM10) was identified as the primary pollutant across 43 out of 46 active monitoring stations in Delhi.
- •Neighbouring NCR cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad recorded 'Poor' air quality, with AQIs of 281, 248, and 224 respectively.
- •The 'Moderate' AQI can cause breathing discomfort for individuals with lung, asthma, and heart diseases.
- •The deterioration follows Delhi logging its lowest monthly average AQI for September in the last five years, with efforts underway to improve air quality ahead of winter.
Key Questions Answered
Delhi's air quality deteriorated to an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 187, reaching the higher end of the 'Moderate' category and marking its highest level in 83 days.
Particulate matter 10 (PM10) remained the prominent pollutant across Delhi, while both PM10 and PM2.5 were identified as primary pollutants in neighbouring National Capital Region cities.
Neighbouring areas fared worse than Delhi, with several cities slipping into the 'Poor' zone including Noida at 281, Ghaziabad at 248, and Faridabad at 224, while Gurugram and Greater Noida recorded 'Moderate' air quality.
