Delhi’s air quality fell into the ‘poor’ category on Sunday after the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 261, marking its highest level in more than 85 days, according to official data.

The reading was the highest since April 17, when the AQI stood at 263. Just a day earlier, Delhi had recorded an AQI of 140, while air quality had largely remained in the ‘moderate’ and ‘satisfactory’ categories for most of the month.

Transnational dust behind spike in pollution

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the sudden deterioration in Delhi-NCR’s air quality was mainly caused by long-range winds carrying mineral dust generated by storm activity in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

According to the commission, these dust-laden winds reached northwestern India, including Delhi, resulting in a significant rise in PM10 concentrations. Strong surface winds across the Indo-Gangetic Plain also contributed to the increase in pollution levels.

The CAQM said Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain in the ‘poor’ category for the next few days before improving once the transnational dust spell weakens.

No GRAP Stage-I restrictions for now

Despite the worsening air quality, the CAQM decided not to implement GRAP Stage-I restrictions, stating that the current pollution episode has been triggered by transnational dust rather than local emission sources.

However, the commission directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to intensify dust control measures across the city.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 201 and 300 falls under the ‘poor’ category.

Delhi experiences humid weather

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the maximum temperature at Safdarjung reached 36.8 degrees Celsius, which was 1.3 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 28.3 degrees Celsius, one degree above the seasonal average.

Although the actual maximum temperature remained below 37 degrees Celsius, high humidity pushed the feels-like temperature to 45.7 degrees Celsius by 5:30 pm.

Among other weather stations, maximum temperatures were recorded at 37 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 36.6 degrees Celsius at Palam, 36.2 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar and 36 degrees Celsius at Ridge.

Minimum temperatures stood at 27.1 degrees Celsius in Palam, 27.2 degrees Celsius in Lodhi Road, 27.4 degrees Celsius in Ayanagar and 25.6 degrees Celsius at Ridge.

Weather outlook

The IMD has forecast strong surface winds during the daytime on Monday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to remain around 37 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Relative humidity varied between 64 per cent at 8:30 am and 52 per cent at 5:30 pm.

Delhi’s iconic Red Fort witnessed heightened security on Saturday after authorities received a bomb threat targeting the historic monument. Following a detailed inspection and sanitisation drive, Delhi Police confirmed that the threat was a hoax and no explosives were found.

Threat call routed through Mumbai Police

According to officials, the threat was initially received by the Mumbai Police Control Room. The caller allegedly claimed that the Red Fort would be blown up.

Mumbai Police immediately shared the information with the Delhi Police Control Room, which alerted the North District Police. Security personnel were deployed at the monument, and a comprehensive search operation was launched to ensure public safety.

After completing the inspection, officials ruled out any security risk and declared the threat to be false.

Security concerns remain high after previous terror incident

The latest threat comes around eight months after a deadly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the Red Fort Metro Station claimed 15 lives and left several others injured.

Investigators had alleged that the blast was carried out by Umar-un-Nabi, a Kashmiri doctor associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad, who was driving a Hyundai i20. The explosion occurred on the same day security agencies recovered around 2,900 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, from neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana.

According to investigators, the accused allegedly triggered the explosion after two suspected associates were arrested and the explosives were seized during the operation.

Authorities had identified several other accused linked to the case. Investigators alleged that the group was part of a white-collar terror module associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organisation.

Earlier arrests linked to alleged attack plots

In May, Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested nine men who were allegedly linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Police alleged that the accused were planning attacks on critical infrastructure and security personnel in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country. According to investigators, potential targets included airports, railway stations, power plants and other vital installations.

Although Saturday’s bomb threat was found to be fake, the incident once again prompted swift security measures at one of the country’s most significant heritage sites.

Heavy monsoon rainfall continued to affect large parts of India on Friday, triggering landslides in the Himalayan states, flooding rivers in the Northeast and causing rain-related deaths in multiple regions. Authorities intensified rescue and relief operations as highways remained blocked, roads were damaged and thousands of people were moved to safer locations.

While several northern and northeastern states continued to receive heavy rainfall, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan witnessed relatively dry weather after days of persistent showers.

Himachal Pradesh faces widespread disruption

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall affected several districts in Himachal Pradesh, damaging roads, bridges and public infrastructure while disrupting daily life. Many educational institutions remained closed as a precaution.

A 70-year-old man died in Kullu district after falling boulders struck him on the Buanda-Chwai road. In Solan district, two people were injured when a boulder hit their vehicle in the Arki area.

Authorities said 27 link roads in Shimla district remained closed, causing inconvenience to commuters. Rockfall incidents were reported at multiple locations along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway.

Officials also expressed concern over a potential landslide threat near the Sangla bridge in Kinnaur district. Any significant damage to the bridge could disconnect Sangla Valley from the rest of the district.

According to the Meteorological Department, Sirmaur and Solan districts recorded the highest rainfall since Thursday evening.

Landslides block key roads in Uttarakhand

Heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours triggered landslides across Uttarakhand, resulting in the death of a teenager, injuries to several people and the closure of schools in affected areas.

Officials said 118 roads across the state, including the Yamunotri National Highway, were blocked due to landslides. A nearly 100-metre stretch of the Yamunotri Highway near Syanachatti in Uttarkashi district was damaged, with restoration work underway.

The Gangotri National Highway also experienced repeated disruptions because of falling rocks and boulders. Continuous rainfall caused the Ganga, Yamuna and several tributaries to swell, prompting authorities to remain on high alert following forecasts of more heavy rainfall.

Floods affect Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast

Flash floods inundated parts of the Ari area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, damaging houses and leaving several residents stranded. Police personnel rescued at least 25 people from flooded areas.

In Mizoram, more than 80 families in Lunglei district were shifted to safer locations after the Khawthlangtuipui River overflowed following days of continuous rain. Authorities also reported landslides and rockfalls at more than 29 locations across the state.

A massive landslide blocked National Highway 54 near Bualte village, leaving several tourists stranded for four days and cutting off Lawngtlai and Siaha districts from the rest of Mizoram. The Aizawl-Thenzawl-Lunglei highway also remained blocked because of major rockfalls.

Tripura continued to battle flood conditions, with over 4,000 houses damaged and nearly 11,000 people taking shelter in relief camps. Officials said no fatalities had been reported in the state.

Uttar Pradesh records heavy rainfall and fatalities

Heavy rainfall continued across many parts of Uttar Pradesh, leading to multiple rain-related deaths.

A 28-year-old man died after reportedly falling into a rainwater-filled roadside drain in Noida. In Muzaffarnagar, a 60-year-old woman was killed after her mud house collapsed, while her husband sustained injuries. In Balrampur, a 21-year-old farmer lost his life after being struck by lightning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the active southwest monsoon over Uttar Pradesh has been strengthened by an upper-air cyclonic circulation over central parts of the state and a well-marked low-pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh.

Mawana in Meerut district recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 315 mm during the 24-hour period ending Friday morning, followed by Jansath in Muzaffarnagar with 270.1 mm.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Uttar Pradesh, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall until July 11.

Delhi and Rajasthan likely to see a break from heavy rain

After two consecutive days of rainfall, Delhi experienced clearer skies on Friday. Weather experts indicated that rainfall activity is expected to remain subdued until around July 15 as the monsoon trough has shifted towards the Himalayan foothills.

The weather office also forecast weaker monsoon activity over Rajasthan, with mostly dry conditions expected across much of the state for about a week and only isolated areas likely to receive light rainfall.

West Bengal, Arunachal and Assam remain on alert

Heavy rain continued across parts of West Bengal, causing waterlogging and traffic congestion in Kolkata. Cooch Behar recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 143 mm during the previous 24 hours, while Dum Dum received 96 mm.

In Arunachal Pradesh, fresh floods and landslides damaged houses, roads and agricultural land in West Kameng, Upper Subansiri and Tirap districts. The flood-related death toll in the state rose to seven after the body of a missing woman was recovered in Papum Pare district.

Authorities in Assam advised residents to remain cautious as the IMD forecast widespread rainfall across the state, including Guwahati, over the coming days. The weather agency warned that heavy rainfall could lead to waterlogging, flash floods, slow traffic movement and localised landslides.

The IMD also forecast widespread rainfall across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura until July 16, while rainfall activity is expected to remain subdued over central and southern Peninsular India during the next week.

Meanwhile, light rainfall was reported in parts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh. In Kerala, recovery operations at the Wayanad landslide site continued, with one more body recovered, taking the death toll to seven.