Delhi’s air quality remains ‘very poor’ for 3rd straight day as govt gears up for cloud seeding

An average AQI of 304 (very poor) was recorded at 10 am, compared to 301 at 4pm, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed

Published on: Oct 28, 2025, 10:52:14 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

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Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” range for a third straight day on Tuesday, even as the government geared up for a possible cloud seeding, and a western disturbance impacted the region. Additional moisture from Cyclone Montha, which was due to hit the coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening, was expected to lead to overcast skies in the region.

Delhi has had overall seven “very poor” air days this month. (HT PHOTO)

An average AQI of 304 (very poor) was recorded at 10am, compared to 301 at 4pm, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. Overall, this is the seventh “very poor” air day this month.

An AQI of 51 to 100 is classified as “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 as “moderate”, 201 and 300 as “poor”, 301 and 400 as “very poor”, and over 400 as “severe”.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) on October 19 when the AQI crossed 300. Delhi’s AQI crossed 200 for the first time this season on October 14, prompting restrictions under Stage 1 of Grap. Stage 3 measures kick in if the AQI crosses 400.

Grap’s Stage 1 focuses on dust mitigation at construction sites, waste management and reducing emissions. Under Stage 2, the entry of inter-state buses (other than EVs / CNG / BS-VI diesel) into Delhi is restricted.

On Monday, environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government was closely monitoring meteorological conditions and if deemed ideal, a cloud seeding attempt may be made on Tuesday. “...clouds were at a much higher elevation during the day. We eventually decided not to fly the aircraft on Monday. We can attempt it on Tuesday if conditions are found to be feasible and our aircraft is ready to fly at anytime,” he said

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jasjeev Gandhiok
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More

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