New Delhi— Delhi residents woke up to a thick layer of smog on Saturday, with air quality plunging into the ‘Severe’ category across multiple locations. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 389 at 10 am, only marginally higher than Thursday’s 4 pm reading of 387.
Several neighbourhoods recorded dangerous pollution levels, with Wazirpur topping the charts at an alarming AQI of 450 at 9 am. Other areas such as Bawana, Rohini, Anand Vihar, Mundka and Jahangirpuri also reported AQI levels above 400.
As pollution intensified, the Commission for Air Quality Management enforced Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan across the National Capital Region. Earlier this week, the Directorate of Education instructed all schools in Delhi-NCR to shift to hybrid mode for students up to Class 5, citing health risks.
The Supreme Court has asked the governments of Punjab and Haryana to submit a status report on actions taken to curb stubble burning—one of the major contributors to the region’s toxic air. According to the Decision Support System, stubble burning accounted for 8.5% of Delhi’s pollution on Friday, while vehicular emissions remained the biggest source at 19.8%.
Experts attribute the deteriorating air quality to a combination of high emissions and unfavourable weather conditions. Slow wind speeds and lower temperatures have trapped pollutants close to the surface, worsening the smog.
The IMD’s early warning bulletin predicted mainly clear skies with smog or shallow fog in the morning hours. It also noted that wind speeds are likely to fall below 5 kmph by the evening of November 15, conditions that could lead to further deterioration.
According to the CPCB scale, an AQI above 400 falls under the ‘Severe’ category, 301–400 is considered ‘Very Poor’, 201–300 ‘Poor’, 101–200 ‘Moderate’ and 51–100 ‘Satisfactory’.
