Delhi Gasps For Breath as AQI Deteriorates to 374, Slips into Severe Category Near Mathura Road

However, on Mathura Road in Delhi, the air quality was severe at an AQI of 513, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). The AQI at Pusa was recorded at 365, Lodhi Road 364, Dhirpur 385 and Ayanagar 357, all very poor categories.

Experts said that the AQI might slip into the severe category in the coming days.

According to a forecast from the SAFAR, the city's air quality will deteriorate further to the very poor category, reaching 382 on Sunday. Delhi's overall AQI spiked to 438 on Friday, as per the AQI bulletin provided by the CPCB.

An AQI between 0 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".

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has ordered the reinforcement of a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR, and a nine-point action plan as per Stage III of GRAP became applicable with immediate effect from Friday. This is in addition to the preventive and restrictive actions under Stage I and Stage II of GRAP.

The nine-point action plan includes steps to be implemented and ensured by different agencies and the pollution control boards of NCR, including the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

This includes intensified frequency of mechanised and vacuum-based sweeping of roads, daily water sprinkling, and use of dust suppressants before peak traffic hours. The agencies must check the hotspots on roads and the right ways, including the heavy traffic corridors.

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The above article has been published from a wire source with minimal modifications to the headline and text.