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Delhi AQI eases to 364 at 8 am on Diwali eve, but IITM warns of severe air till November 9
The first CPCB reading of Saturday was lower than Friday's 382, yet IIT Delhi, Punjabi Bagh and Narela were in the severe band and the early warning system expects the whole city to turn severe over the Diwali weekend.
Key points
- Delhi's AQI was 364 at 8 am on Saturday, down from 382 in Friday's 4 pm bulletin, and still in the very poor band.
- IIT Delhi read 443, Punjabi Bagh 433 and Narela 409, all severe.
- The IITM early warning system expects severe air from November 7 to 9, and severe to very poor for six days after.
Delhi’s air eased slightly on the morning of Diwali eve but stayed deep in the very poor band. The Central Pollution Control Board put the city’s overall AQI at 364 at 8 am on Saturday, November 7, against 382 in Friday’s 4 pm bulletin.
The relief is thin. Several stations were in the severe band of 401 to 500: IIT Delhi read 443, Punjabi Bagh 433 and Narela 409. Dhaula Kuan was at 318, the Cantonment area at 315 and Anand Vihar at 272, while Lodhi Road stood at 251, in the poor band, at 7:25 am.
Severe air forecast
The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, run by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, expects air in the Severe category from November 7 to November 9, 2026, its forecast says, and it expects severe to very poor air for the following six days.
The India Meteorological Department expects mainly clear skies with shallow fog or mist in the morning and temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. It has issued no weather warning for Delhi for the next seven days, so no rain or strong wind is forecast to clear the air.
Curbs in force
GRAP Stage III came into force on Friday as a precaution, four days after Stage II. It restricts older, more polluting vehicles and bars construction and demolition work across the National Capital Region, including road construction, drilling, piling and excavation. Hybrid classes are recommended for junior students.
Pollution is expected to rise further over the weekend as Diwali celebrations begin. The Supreme Court has allowed certified green crackers in Delhi-NCR only on November 7 and 8, and the full ban returns on November 9. The next daily average from the CPCB is due in its 4 pm bulletin.