POLLUTION

Delhi Pollution: National Capital’s AQI Slips to “Severe” Category, Delhiites Advised to Avoid Outdoor Activities

File photo: Dust storm in New Delhi (Piyal Bhattacharjee/TOI, BCCL, Delhi) — Representational Image.
(Piyal Bhattacharjee/TOI, BCCL, Delhi)

Friday, December 24: Along with the drop in temperatures in the national capital, Delhi's air pollution levels also seem to be deteriorating. After remaining deplorable for most of the week, Delhi's air quality improved slightly and was categorised as "very poor" yesterday. However, the respite was short-lived, as the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) has once again entered "severe" levels today.

Presently, the overall AQI of Delhi stands at 432 according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). The PM2.5 stands at 261 and PM10 at 423. Slow winds are partly responsible for the decline in AQIs, as they aren't permitting proper ventilation from the landlocked capital.

Meanwhile, the air quality of some of the other cities in the NCR, like Noida and Gurugram, remains at 570 (critical) and 375 (very poor), respectively.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 is 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. Severe-level AQI can cause respiratory impacts on healthy people, and serious health impacts on those with lung or heart diseases.

However, predominant surface winds from the southeast direction, followed by light rains and thundershowers across Delhi-NCR on Sunday and Monday, December 26-27, could help disperse the pollutants and improve Delhi’s overall AQI.

According to the Air Quality and Weather Bulletin for Delhi-NCR, the capital’s AQI is likely to improve and reach the ‘very poor’ category later today. Further betterment is expected on December 25-26, but the AQI will still remain in the same ‘very poor’ category.

As for the outlook for the subsequent five days, the pollution levels are likely to improve significantly from December 27, with the AQI reaching the poor and even the moderate category.

Owing to the high levels of air pollution, the SAFAR health advisory has urged residents to avoid outdoor physical activities, or to at least stop any activity if they experience any unusual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue, and immediately consult a doctor.

Meanwhile, just yesterday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai informed the press that more than 34,000 pollution-related complaints had been lodged through the Green Delhi application so far, out of which over 32,000 have been resolved.

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