Delhi Air Quality Borders On 'Severe' As Stubble Burning Continues In Punjab, Haryana

Air pollution menace continues to trouble the Delhi residents as AQI on Saturday stood in the 'Very Poor' category, much higher than the breathable limits.

Delhi air not getting better as air quality borders on 'Severe' category. ( Image Source :PTI )

Delhi Air Pollution:  After remaining in the 'Severe' category for days, Delhi air on Saturday went into the 'Very Poor' category with an overall air quality index (AQI) of 398, just at the brink of reaching in 'Severe' zone. Visuals shared by news agency ANI showed a thick layer of smog covering Delhi skies in several areas despite various measures taken by the government of the national capital to curb the menace. This comes a day before the city is set to celebrate the Chhath festival.

According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Bawana in Delhi recorded and AQI of 390, while at IGI airport it was 340, at ITO the AQI was 312 and in Jahangirpuri, it stood at 373 as of 8 am on Saturday.

Visuals from India Gate as air quality continues to remain in 'very poor' category in Delhi-NCR.#DelhiAirPollution pic.twitter.com/fVG2tDR976

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 18, 2023

Drone visuals of neighbouring Ghaziabad showed a layer of smog over the region where air quality was in the 'Poor' category with an AQI of 297. In Noida, the number stood at 'Very Poor' in and around Sector 1 and 'Poor' in other areas. 

#WATCH | Visuals of stubble burning from Karnal, Haryana (17.11) pic.twitter.com/gueH77qOaV

— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2023

Meanwhile, stubble burning has not stopped in Haryana and Punjab as visuals have come forth from Karnal in Haryana and Firozpur in Punjab showing stubble being burnt across a massive field in broad daylight. The same is the case at several places in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj where crop residue was being burnt in several villages. 

Visuals of stubble burning in Firozpur, Punjab. pic.twitter.com/E1SArUcwZC

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 18, 2023

In Gurugram, AQI was recorded to be 'Very Poor' at 376 while in Faridabad, it was slightly better and in 'Poor' category. However, the Sector 16A observatory recorded an overall AQI of 348. 

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, there's some relief as AQI stood in the 'Moderate' category.