Delhi gasping: AQI at 370; 50% govt staff to work from home
New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality hit the season’s worst mark on Sunday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 391 before slightly improving later in the day. A dense smog blanket shrouded the Capital as temperatures dipped to 11.7°C, significantly below normal.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the AQI stood at 370 at 4 pm, placing the city in the “very poor” category. Most monitoring stations recorded “severe” pollution levels, with Punjabi Bagh topping at 425, followed by Bawana (410), Jahangirpuri (401), and Wazirpur and Nehru Nagar (400). In NCR, Noida reported an AQI of 354, Ghaziabad 345, and Greater Noida 340, all in the “very poor” range.
PM2.5 remained the dominant pollutant. The Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality attributed around 20 per cent of Delhi’s pollution to vehicular emissions and five per cent to stubble burning. Satellite data showed 238 farm fire incidents in Punjab, 42 in Haryana, and 158 in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.
The Air Quality Early Warning System predicted that pollution levels will remain in the “very poor” zone in the coming days. Since Diwali, the city’s air quality has oscillated between “poor” and “severe”.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that 50 per cent of Delhi government staff will work from home and that staggered office timings will be implemented between November 15 and February 15, 2026, to curb vehicular emissions. Government offices will function from 10 am to 6:30 pm, while Municipal Corporation offices will operate from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
“During winter, pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 rise sharply. Staggering timings will help distribute traffic and emissions more evenly,” said Gupta, adding that the measure reflects the government’s proactive approach toward pollution control.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decided not to invoke Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) despite high pollution levels, noting a slight improvement in AQI through the day. The panel said measures under Stages 1 and 2 would continue, with constant monitoring of air quality trends.
Under GRAP, Stage 3 restrictions, including a ban on non-essential construction, curbs on older vehicles, and hybrid learning for primary classes, are triggered when AQI crosses 400. Authorities said they will review the situation regularly as unfavourable weather, stubble burning, and emissions continue to choke Delhi-NCR.
