Severe Air Quality Crisis Hits Delhi with AQI Soaring to 414

Air Quality Index Reaches Alarming Levels

On Tuesday morning, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital surged to 414, resulting in reduced visibility at landmarks like the Akshardham Temple due to a toxic mix of fog and smoke. The skies over Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad remained hazy. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality was categorized as 'very poor,' with readings exceeding 300, while seven areas in the city recorded severe AQI levels.

Morning Begins with Stifling Air Quality

The AQI surpassed 400 (severe category) at 27 monitoring stations across the city, with several locations reaching the 'extremely severe' category, exposing residents to dangerously high pollution levels. Data from the CPCB indicated that at 9 AM on Tuesday, the AQI hit 415, dropping from the previous day's 'very poor' classification. Pollution levels have been on a continuous rise.

Severe Air Quality Recorded

Statistics revealed that out of 40 monitoring stations, 27 reported AQI levels exceeding 400, indicating severe air quality that poses serious health risks. According to the CPCB's 'Sameer' app, five stations recorded AQI levels above 450, categorizing them as 'very severe.' The readings included Anand Vihar at 470, Nehru Nagar at 463, Okhla at 459, Mundka at 459, and Siri Fort at 450.

The CPCB classifies AQI levels as follows: 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe. Meanwhile, dense fog significantly reduced visibility.

Visibility Affected by Dense Fog

At Palam, visibility was recorded at just 50 meters due to thick fog at 8 AM, with winds blowing from the west-southwest at a speed of 5 km/h. In Safdarjung, calm winds resulted in visibility of 100 meters at the same time. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi's minimum temperature dropped to 8.8 degrees Celsius, which is 1.3 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 23 degrees Celsius, with dense fog likely persisting throughout the day.