New Delhi: Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Wednesday, with air pollution levels plunging into the ‘severe’ category across several parts of the city. A sharp spike in pollutant concentration pushed the Air Quality Index (AQI) well beyond the 400 mark at multiple stations monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
At 8 a.m., pollution readings revealed alarming conditions:
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Anand Vihar: 419
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Bawana: 445
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Rohini: 431
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Punjabi Bagh: 425
Neighbouring NCR cities fared no better. Greater Noida recorded a hazardous 450, while Noida stood at 410 and Ghaziabad at 435. Though relatively lower, Faridabad (234) and Gurugram (288) still fell within the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories.
The capital had already been witnessing a steady rise in pollution. By 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI was 374, classed as ‘very poor’, with over a dozen stations crossing into the ‘severe’ bracket—levels known to affect even healthy individuals and exacerbate respiratory conditions.
According to CPCB standards, AQI categories are defined as:
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0–50: Good
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51–100: Satisfactory
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101–200: Moderate
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201–300: Poor
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301–400: Very Poor
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401–500: Severe
Health experts have advised residents to limit outdoor activity, wear masks, and use air purifiers where possible. Authorities are monitoring the situation as pollution levels threaten to worsen in the coming days due to stagnant weather conditions.
