Delhi-NCR AQI Update: Ghaziabad’s Air Slips ‘Very Poor’ Category, Delhi’s Remains ‘Poor’

Commuters make their way amid low visibility on a hazy morning. (PTI photo)

Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category for the third consecutive day on Thursday, with an AQI reading of 245. In neighbouring Ghaziabad, the situation was worse, the air slipped into the “very poor” bracket.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, AQI ranges are defined as: 0–50 (good), 51–100 (satisfactory), 101–200 (moderate), 201–300 (poor), 301–400 (very poor), and 401–500 (severe).

The minimum temperature on Thursday settled at 18.1 °C, slightly below the norm, while the maximum is expected to reach around 32 °C. Mist is likely in the early morning hours, followed by a mostly clear sky, according to the India Meteorological Department. The relative humidity at 8:30 am was 87 per cent.

On Wednesday, five out of the capital’s 38 air monitoring stations reported pollution levels in the ‘very poor’ category. As per CPCB, Anand Vihar recorded the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) at 345. It was followed by Wazirpur (325), Dwarka Sector 8 (314), and both DU North Campus and CRRI Mathura Road, which recorded an AQI of 307.

Here’s the list of the Top 10 Polluted Cities in India (as of 4 PM, 16 October 2025, based on 24-hour average AQI).

1. Bulandshahr — 220
2. Bhopal — 233
3. Hapur, UP — 236
4. Delhi — 245
5. Gurugram – 260
6. Greater Noida — 272
7. Bhiwadi, Rajasthan — 277
8. Noida — 288
9. Ballabgarh, Haryana — 296
10. Ghaziabad — 307