Delhi Pollution: AQI Nears 'Severe' Mark As 'Very Poor' Air Quality Chokes Capital

Delhi Pollution: Of the 39 air quality monitoring stations, 17 showed the air quality to be in the ‘severe’ category.

The air quality index in the metropolitan city was reeling under the ‘severe plus’ category for 4-5 days in the past week.

Source : PTI

Delhi Air Quality Today: Delhi was covered in a thick layer of haze on Tuesday morning, as the air quality was reported to be ‘very poor’, taking a plunge from Monday's 'poor' category report. On Monday, Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 279 at 5:30 AM.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, recorded Delhi’s AQI 392 at 9 AM. At least 17 of the 39 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, recorded the AQI to be in the 'severe' category at 9 AM. The areas that recorded pollution in the 'severe' category include the National Stadium (India Gate), Anand Vihar, Bawana etc..

Check the full list:

Area	AQI
Alipur	412
Anand Vihar	440
Ashok Vihar	415
Bawana	420
Jahangiripur	416
Mandir Marg	413
Mundka	426
National Stadium	408
Narela	411
Nehru Nagar	415
Patparganj	405
Punjabi Bagh	406
Rohini	426
Shadipur	416
Sonapur	421
Vivek Vihar	423
Wazirpur	417

#WATCH | Delhi | A layer of haze covers the National Capital as the Air Quality Index in several areas continues to remain in the 'Very Poor' category as per the CPCB.

(Visuals from Connaught Place) pic.twitter.com/Rx3M7ObSoR

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024

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'. An AQI of 400 or higher is classified as 'severe', which poses significant health risks to both healthy individuals and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

The air quality index in the metropolitan city was reeling under the ‘severe plus’ category for 4-5 days in the past week.

#WATCH | A thin layer of smog blankets the national capital as the AQI remains in 'Very Poor' category, in parts of Delhi, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

(Drone visuals from Sarita Vihar) pic.twitter.com/4whZ6LVyFI

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024

However, trains continued to move amid the thick blanket of smog. 

#WATCH | Trains' movement continues amid smog in Delhi. Visuals from New Delhi Railway Station.

AQI is recorded at 382 near the station, categorised as 'very poor' according to the CPCB. pic.twitter.com/YQKyDx11zE

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024

Earlier on Monday, the Directorate of Education of the Delhi Government issued directions to all schools in the national capital to follow the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) order.

“State governments in the NCR shall ensure that all classes up to 12th Standard are conducted in a ‘hybrid” mode, i.e., both in “physical” and also in “online” modes, wherever online mode is feasible in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar in the NCR,” said the CAQM order.

This directive applied to educational institutions in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi and neighbouring NCR districts such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar. State governments in other NCR regions have also been urged to consider the hybrid model.  

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, while refusing to relax anti-pollution GRAP-4 restrictions, had urged the CAQM to consider the plight of students missing mid-day meals and struggling with inadequate online learning infrastructure.