Pollution: November air in Delhi was worst in six years, says data

Delhi witnessed worst air quality this November in six years, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.

The average AQI for November this year was 376, which is in very poor . The corresponding figure for 2020 was 327, while the air in November 2019 was also cleaner with an average AQI of 312.

This year, there were 11 ‘severe’ air days in November, higher than nine last year, seven in 2019, and five in 2018.''

In contrast, October this year recorded the cleanest air since 2018, with no ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ air day. This was primarily due to rainfall in the month.

The contribution of stubble burning to PM2.5 levels in Delhi also peaked in November this year, hitting a high of 48% on November 7.

Delhi recorded three ‘severe’ air days at a stretch from November 26 to 28, which experts have attributed to to a fall in temperature and low wind speed.