A new wave of dust from northern Pakistan has begun sweeping into Delhi-NCR raising fresh concerns over the capital’s air quality amid rising heat. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) strong lower-level westerly winds are carrying the dust through Punjab and Haryana into the heart of Delhi threatening to reverse recent gains in pollution control.
While visibility in areas like Palam has improved to 4,000 meters far above the threshold that defines a dust storm the increase in airborne particulates has pushed Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) back into the ‘poor’ category. The Central Pollution Control Board reported an alarming AQI of 350 in Punjabi Bagh with several neighborhoods following suit.
This resurgence of pollution comes after a short-lived improvement that saw the AQI dip to ‘moderate’ levels, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to lift Stage-I restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan. The current spike, however highlights the fragile nature of these improvements.
Officials urge strict enforcement of pollution control measures, including those issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to prevent further deterioration. With temperatures climbing into the upper 30s Celsius and pollutant levels rising, Delhi braces for another challenging stretch where clean air becomes increasingly elusive.