The air quality across Delhi has deteriorated to the 'severe' category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in many parts crossing 400. While the AQI in the Lodhi Road area shows 438, it is 491 in Jahangirpuri. In the RK Puram area, the AQI is 486 and 473 in and around Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3).
The situation in the NCR region too is pitable with AQI in Noida Sector 125 hitting 400 (very poor category). In Noida Sector 62, it is 483 and Sector 1 and Sector 116 are marked 413 and 415 (severe category), respectively.
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'.
A dense and pungent haze has blanketed the skyline of Delhi-NCR as the concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and trigger health problems, exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven-to-eightfold at multiple locations throughout the region.
#WATCH | Delhi | As per the latest official data, the air quality in Lodhi Road area continues to remain in Severe category. Visuals from the area as a thick layer of haze lingers in the air. pic.twitter.com/kV8LRCemjt
— ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2023
According to a numerical model-based system developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, smoke from stubble burning accounted for 25 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi on Thursday. It may soar to 35 per cent on Friday.
Given the situation, the Delhi Government and Centre have imposed severe measures to curb pollution, including curbs on non-essential construction work and closure of primary schools.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ordered an immediate ban on non-essential construction work, stone crushing and mining in the region. Works related to Railways, Metro, airports, healthcare facilities, defence and national security, sanitation and water supply, highways, flyovers, pipelines and roads have been exempted.
Curbs have been imposed on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
#WATCH | Delhi: Sprinkling of water being done in the Lodhi Road area by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), as a measure against the rise in Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city. pic.twitter.com/r1qn4M6IX4
— ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2023
The Delhi government has announced that all government and private primary schools in the city will remain closed for the next two days. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has also arranged for water tankers to sprinkle water to bring down the pollution in the Lodhi Road area, one of the worst-hit areas of the national capital. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has also called an emergency meeting on Friday to review the situation.
Not just Delhi, several cities in neighbouring Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh also reported hazardous air. These included Hanumangarh (438) and Sri Ganganagar (359) in Rajasthan; Hisar (414), Fatehabad (423), Jind (413), Rohtak (388), Sonepat (374), Kurukshetra (343), Karnal (343), Kaithal (379), Bhiwani (355), Faridabad (368) and Gurugram (297) in Haryana; and Ghaziabad (286), Noida (313) and Greater Noida (402) in Uttar Pradesh.
