Delhi Sees Unusual AQI Surge In May; AAP Blames BJP, Environment Minister Responds

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Last Updated:May 15, 2025, 19:48 IST

A particulate tempest triggered by gusty winds sweeping done Delhi pushed the AQI supra 300 successful respective areas connected Thursday. The tempest besides led to reduced visibility crossed the city

A broad of particulate envelops the entity supra the Rashtrapati Bhavan, successful New Delhi, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (PTI Photo)

The Air Quality Index (AQI) successful parts of Delhi connected Thursday crossed 300 owed to a terrible particulate tempest that besides affected the city’s visibility. The absorption Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) questioned the BJP, which had termed the incidental an “extreme upwind event".

The AQI successful respective parts of Delhi was supra 300 astatine noon connected Thursday, with the highest astatine Punjabi Bagh (379), followed by Sirifort (369). Jahangirpuri (344), DTU (343), Mathura Road (326), and Alipur (324) were besides among the areas with AQI supra 300, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

Lodhi Road (316), Shadipur (313), RK Puram (304), Mundka (304), NSIT Dwarka (304), and Narela (301) were besides affected.

It is important to enactment that, arsenic per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, Delhi is among the parts of the state expected to witnesser beardown dust-raising winds (25–35 kmph) connected Friday and Saturday.

This was besides the crushed for the AQI driblet connected Thursday. According to the IMD, the particulate tempest was triggered by gusty winds sweeping done the region. The tempest besides impacted visibility.

AAP main Arvind Kejriwal posted connected X, saying aerial contamination was ne'er this atrocious during the AAP authorities astatine this clip of year. It is worthy noting that aerial prime successful Delhi is usually precise mediocre and terrible during the wintertime months.

Atishi, the Leader of the Opposition successful the Delhi Assembly, besides posted connected the societal media platform, stating that the AQI successful the metropolis had ne'er been truthful precocious successful May.

“CPCB’s ain information shows that from 2022-2024, AQI connected May 15 ne'er exceeded 243. Today AQI is astatine 500. Will BJP instrumentality work for the worsening aerial contamination successful Delhi? Where is Delhi’s Environment Minister @mssirsa?" she posted connected X.

Responding to her, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the concern was owed to an “extreme upwind event, not misgovernance".

“It’s unfortunate that a erstwhile CM is utilizing a earthy sandstorm to people governmental points; particularly erstwhile the existent blasted lies successful a decennary of neglect nether AAP. Today’s AQI spike is owed to an utmost upwind event, not misgovernance," helium explained.

The concern raised questions, arsenic the period of May usually witnesses mean to mediocre aerial prime days.

According to SAFAR, the mean AQI of Delhi was betwixt 400 and 500 — categorised arsenic ‘Severe’. The bureau uses a acheronian reddish colour to bespeak the mean AQI alternatively of circumstantial numbers. On Wednesday, SAFAR had said that aerial prime was apt to beryllium successful the ‘Moderate’ class betwixt May 15 and 17 successful Delhi, though it could gaffe to ‘Poor’ during the pursuing week.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was successful the ‘Poor’ class (AQI 236) astatine 8 am. On Wednesday afternoon, Delhi’s AQI was astatine 135 — successful the ‘Moderate’ category, according to CPCB.

The AQI classifies aerial prime arsenic follows: Good (0–50), Satisfactory (51–100), Moderate (101–200), Poor (201–300), Very Poor (301–400), and Severe (401–500).

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News india Delhi Sees Unusual AQI Surge In May; AAP Blames BJP, Environment Minister Responds