Delhi's AQI Hits 420 as Air Quality Deteriorates to 'Severe' Level

Delhi's air quality plunged into the 'severe' category again on Saturday, as the city recorded an overall Air Quality Index of 420. Of 38 monitoring stations across the National Capital, nine registered air quality in the 'severe plus' category with AQI levels crossing 450 while 19 stations reported AQI between 400 and 450 indicating 'severe' pollution levels.

Delhi's AQI Hits 420, Supreme Court Extends GRAP-4 Rules

Key pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar (AQI 457), Ashok Vihar (AQI 455), Chandni Chowk (AQI 439), and RK Puram (AQI 421). The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI levels between 401 and 500 as 'severe,' which poses serious health implications for everyone. In contrast, an AQI between 0-50 is 'good, 51-100 is 'satisfactory, while anything above 100 implies deteriorating air quality at various degrees.

The Capital city has been witnessing hazardous air for more than 20 days. The AQI on Friday stood at 371, categorized as 'very poor'. This prolonged pollution has caused the Supreme Court to express its displeasure over such poor enforcement of GRAP-4 restrictions, including not restricting trucks into Delhi. The court ordered the authorities to further extend the measures under GRAP-4, restricting construction work and industrial operations till November 25, subject to review later.

Also Read: Maharashtra Elections 2024: Ajit Pawar's Stunning Comeback on Maharashtra Seat

Delhi’s environment minister, Gopal Rai, highlighted the state's efforts to tackle pollution, revealing he has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav four times, urging cloud seeding as a potential solution. Despite the deteriorating air quality, actionable steps like cloud seeding and better implementation of restrictions remain in discussion.

It was hardly a day to forget, as the city's weather added to the discomfort, with the minimum temperature reaching 11.4°C and humidity soaring to 97% at 8:30 a.m. The maximum temperature is expected to touch 25°C.
As Delhi confronts its annual pollution crisis, experts emphasize urgent need for short-term measures to suppress the degradation of air quality while residents suffer through another winter of choking smog and rising health concerns.