Delhi All Set to Become the Most Polluted City in India
Delhi All Set to Become the Most Polluted City in India
Delhi’s air quality is on the verge of becoming “severe,” making it the most polluted city in India.
Delhi’s air quality approached the ‘severe’ category on Sunday, registering an overall AQI of 382, marking the highest level recorded in the country for that day. Data indicated that fifteen monitoring stations across the city reported air quality levels in the ‘severe’ range, with AQI readings exceeding 400.
Air pollution levels have escalated to the ‘severe’ category in several areas, including Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, NSIT Dwarka, Najafgarh, Nehru Nagar, Okhla Phase 2, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, Wazirpur, and Vivek Vihar.
The lowest temperature noted on Sunday was 16.5 degrees Celsius, which is 1.2 degrees higher than the usual level, as reported by the weather department.
The average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the national capital over a 24-hour period, measured at 4 pm daily, reached 382, worsening from 316 the day before.
An Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging from 0 to 50 is classified as ‘good’, while an AQI of 51 to 100 is deemed ‘satisfactory’. An AQI between 101 and 200 falls into the ‘moderate’ category, 201 to 300 is labeled ‘poor’, 301 to 400 is termed ‘very poor’, 401 to 450 is categorized as ‘severe’, and any value exceeding 450 is classified as ‘severe plus’.
The highest temperature recorded was 33.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.7 degrees above the normal range, as reported by the weather department.
Throughout the day, humidity levels varied between 64 and 95 percent.
The IQair website reports that the current pollution level, indicated by PM2.5 concentration, is 59 times above the safety threshold set by the WHO. Prolonged exposure to such elevated pollution levels can lead to serious health issues, including damage to the lungs and brain.
Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that approximately 200 mobile anti-smog guns will be stationed throughout the national capital to address dust pollution.
In a statement to ANI on Saturday, Gopal Rai emphasized that the Delhi government is actively engaged in efforts to tackle the increasing pollution levels.
