Delhi’s air quality worsened sharply on Friday morning. The AQI hit 301, placing it in the “very poor” category. A sudden increase in dust pollution caused this decline.
AQI Touches Hazardous Levels in Several Areas
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s overall AQI at 7 am was 301. This range falls under “very poor.” Most monitoring stations showed similarly dangerous levels.
The AQI at Anand Vihar reached 352. In Ashok Vihar, it stood at 322. Aya Nagar recorded 333. These figures confirmed a significant drop in air quality.
IMD Explains the Reason Behind the Sudden Decline
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) explained the cause. Strong winds, blowing at 30–40 kmph, hit Palam and nearby areas. These winds brought heavy dust from Rajasthan. As a result, Delhi’s air quality dropped quickly—something unusual for May.
AAP Blames BJP Over Pollution Spike
Soon after, a political row broke out. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed the BJP for failing to deliver on clean air promises.
AAP’s official handle wrote on X, “In the month of May itself, Delhi-NCR was covered in a blanket of pollution. In the month of May itself, AQI has crossed 500 in many areas of Delhi-NCR, and dust and poisonous air are spread in the air. This has never happened before. There are BJP governments in Delhi and all the surrounding states, but no BJP government is doing any work to reduce pollution.”
Kejriwal Points to Better Conditions Under AAP Rule
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal also responded. He shared a news report and said on X, “Air pollution was never this bad during the AAP regime at this time of the year.”
BJP Hits Back, Criticises AAP
In response, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa took aim at Atishi, a former Delhi CM. She had said the AQI touched 500 on Thursday. Sirsa accused AAP of leaving behind problems.
He said, “I am very amazed that Atishi has been the CM and she is tweeting like this – yesterday, the weather department had told that there would be thunderstorms and duststorms – now, will we be blamed for such storms? But it’s good that Atishi has expectations from us. But, the ‘disease’ that ‘AAP-da’ has given us for the last 10 years, we will make all efforts and will clean the air of Delhi.”
