New Delhi: Delhi woke up to heavy haze and smog on Thursday morning, with air quality plunging further into the ‘very poor’ category, exacerbating concerns over pollution in the national capital.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 357, a significant jump from the previous day’s 279, marking a sharp deterioration after days of already troubling ‘poor’ ratings. This drop in air quality also led to reduced visibility across multiple parts of the city.
Experts point to stagnant atmospheric conditions as a major factor behind the worsening pollution. The city’s ventilation index, which measures the atmosphere’s ability to disperse pollutants, remained below the optimal threshold of 6,000 square meters per second, according to Delhi’s Air Quality Early Warning System.
Slow-moving winds, clocking in at less than 10 km/h, combined with dense fog, have trapped pollutants close to the ground, creating the characteristic murky and hazy skies seen across Delhi.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded visibility levels at 1,000 meters in Palam and 800 meters near Safdarjung as of 7:30 am. Both areas reported relatively stable air quality conditions, but several other parts of the city were engulfed in thick fog.
Localities such as Kartavya Path, Anand Vihar, Burari, and Akshardham experienced heavy fog early in the day, adding to the visibility woes.
Certain areas including Vivek Vihar and Anand Vihar have seen air quality worsen into the ‘severe’ category, with AQI readings reaching 415 and 408, respectively. A total of 33 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded AQI values exceeding 300, signaling a widespread air pollution crisis.
For context, the CPCB categorizes AQI values as follows: 0-50 is ‘good,’ 51-100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101-200 ‘moderate,’ 201-300 ‘poor,’ 301-400 ‘very poor,’ and 401-500 ‘severe.’
On the weather front, the IMD reported Delhi’s minimum temperature at 20.1 degrees Celsius, which is around four degrees above the seasonal average, while humidity levels stood high at 90 percent early Thursday morning. The day’s maximum temperature is forecast to reach around 30 degrees Celsius, with light fog expected again by evening.
As pollution levels continue to climb, residents are advised to take necessary precautions, especially those with respiratory conditions or other health vulnerabilities.
