New Delhi:
Delhi gasped this morning as the Air Quality Index (AQI) moved back into the ‘severe’ category in several areas, soon after the bursting of firecrackers in the National Capital Region on Diwali marked the improvement in air quality due to a spell of rain .
This morning, Delhi residents woke up to a choking blanket of smog that reduced visibility and exacerbated their difficulty breathing.
The AQI in the national capital, which had slipped to ‘very poor’ yesterday as smoke from firecrackers mixed with air pollution due to stubble burning in north India, has now deteriorated further, Central Pollution Control data showed Board (CPCB).
While the air quality index in ITO was recorded at 430 at 6 am, the AQI in Jahangirpuri was recorded at 428, according to CPCB data.
The AQI in RK Puram was 417 while in Punjabi Bagh it was 410.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
While an AQI level of 400-500 affects healthy people and has serious consequences for people with existing diseases, an AQI level of 301-400 causes respiratory disease with long-term exposure.
An AQI level of 201-300 and 150-200 can cause discomfort in people with lung, asthma and heart diseases.
Earlier on Monday, the 24-hour average AQI in Delhi was recorded at 358 (very poor), the CPCB said.
Most real-time air monitoring platforms had an air quality index (AQI) above 500 this morning, with some places even reaching 900. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium recorded an AQI of 910, Lajpat Nagar 959 and Karol Bagh 779 around 6 am.
According to the CPCB data, the capital saw an AQI of 312 on Diwali last year, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017 and 431 in 2016.
Air quality in Delhi and other parts of northern India deteriorates every year ahead of winter, when cold air traps pollutants from vehicles, industry, construction dust and stubble.