Delhi struggles with toxic air as AQI hits severe levels

New Delhi: Delhi continues to battle dangerous air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 410 early Monday morning, falling in the ‘severe’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A thick layer of fog covered the city, reducing visibility, as the minimum temperature dropped to 9.2 degrees Celsius, reported the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Light rainfall was also observed under cloudy skies.

Several parts of Delhi reported alarming AQI levels, with areas like Wazirpur (464), Ashok Vihar (460), Mundka (446), Burari Crossing (445), and Anand Vihar (443) among the worst affected. In Dwarka-Sector 8 (393) and Najafgarh (372), air quality remained just below the ‘severe’ mark.

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The concentration of PM2.5, a harmful pollutant, remained critically high, with 37 out of 39 monitoring stations on Sunday recording ‘severe plus’ levels. These tiny particles can enter the lungs and cause serious health issues, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems.

To address the crisis, Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been in effect across the National Capital Region (NCR) since December 16. However, these emergency measures have shown limited results so far.

The Supreme Court has stepped in, urging Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to enforce firecracker bans like Delhi’s and to strictly implement GRAP measures and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The court also directed authorities to deploy monitoring teams at Delhi’s borders to ensure compliance with anti-pollution measures.

Despite these efforts, the situation remains dire, raising concerns about the city’s air quality and its impact on public health.