Delhi Records 'Severe' Air Quality In Several Areas, Visibility Drops Due To Smog

As many as 20 stations in Delhi recorded the air quality in 'severe' category with AQI above 400 while smog covered the city affecting visibility in several areas.

The pollution levels in Delhi and NCR region continued to remain "very poor".

Source : PTI

Air quality in the national capital continued to remain "very poor" with several stations recording "severe" levels of pollution. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index of 384 on Friday at 6 am. 

Meanwhile, 20 stations recorded an AQI above 400 with air quality plummeting into the "severe" category. These include Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Mundka, Jahangirpuri, and Wazirpur among others. 

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", 401 and 450 "severe" and above 450 "severe-plus".

The visibility in the national capital also dropped in some areas Tilak Nagar, RK Puram, Akshardham, ITO among others as a thick layer of smog covers the city. 

VIDEO | Delhi: A thick layer of smog envelops parts of national capital. Visuals from India Gate.

(Full video available on PTI videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#DelhiAQI #DelhiSmog pic.twitter.com/OO2DnFtig3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 8, 2024

Station
Alipur	397
Anand Vihar	416
Ashok Vihar	420
Bawana	441
Burari Crossing	441
CRRI Mathura Road	441
DTU	412
Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range	402
Dwarks Sector-8	391
IGI Airport (T3)	391
IBHAS, Dilshad Garden	266
ITO	349
Jahangirpuri	439
Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium	367
Lodhi Road	192
Dhyan Chand Stadium	399
Mandir Marg	385
Mundka	428
NSIT Dwarka	341
Najafgarh	374
Narela	404
Nehru Nagar	412
New Moti Bagh	429
North Campus, DU	529
Okhla Phase-2	397
Patparganj	402
Punjabi Bagh	405
Pusa, DPCC	361
Pusa, IMD	361
RK Puram	405
Rohini	440
Shadipur	387
Siri Fort	397
Sonia Vihar	405
Sri Aurobindo Marg	261
Vivek Vihar	414
Wazirpur	434

*Figures according to Air Quality Warning and Decision Support System For Delhi under Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology as of 6 am.

On Thursday, officials from the Delhi government said three mist spray drones will be hired to combat dust pollution in hotspot areas and gather real-time data on major pollutants, reported PTI. 

The drones will be deployed across 13 identified pollution hotspots to spray water and improve quality, they said. 

According to the officials, the exercise will help in settling dust particles, reducing particulate matter (PM) concentrations and mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution on public health and the environment. 

An environment department officer of the Delhi government said the process for hiring a vendor to operate the three drones has begun as a 15-day trial in hotspot areas. 

The drones will have a 17-litre tank and will be capable of covering one acre within 15 minutes. These drones will also integrate real-time air quality monitoring systems and high-resolution cameras for accurate data collection and reporting.  

The drones will work on pre-programmed routes to ensure comprehensive coverage for mist spray in most polluted areas as well as real-time monitoring. The air quality monitoring system, installed on the drones, will measure temperature, humidity, pressure, ozone, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5 among other parameters.