A dense blanket of smog and fog descended upon Delhi-NCR on Monday, severely disrupting normal life. The air quality plunged into the 'severe' category, causing significant delays at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Residents woke up to hazy skies and poor visibility, marking another difficult day in the capital's ongoing battle with pollution.
Air Quality Readings Paint a Grim Picture
The Central Pollution Control Board recorded alarming air quality index numbers across the city. Some areas reported an AQI of 455, while ITO recorded 434. These figures place Delhi firmly in the 'severe' zone, indicating hazardous conditions for all residents.
Weekend Pollution Spike
The situation deteriorated sharply over the weekend. On Sunday, several monitoring stations recorded extreme readings at the high end of the severe category for prolonged periods. Anand Vihar touched a worrying 497 on the AQI scale, while Mundka and Rohini both recorded 491. These three locations entered the 'severe-plus' range, highlighting the intensity of the pollution episode.
Out of 37 operational air quality monitoring stations across Delhi, the standard 4 pm reading showed severe air quality at 32 stations. Five stations reported 'very poor' levels, and Ayanagar recorded the city's lowest AQI at 356, which still represents unhealthy conditions.
Pollution Hotspots Identified
Pollution levels began worsening from Saturday, with several locations registering AQI readings above 480 for extended periods on Sunday. Many established pollution hotspots recorded particularly poor air quality, including:
- Nehru Nagar in Lajpat Nagar
- Sonia Vihar
- Wazirpur
- Ashok Vihar
- Bawana
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
- Delhi University's North Campus
How AQI is Calculated
The Air Quality Index is calculated based on the concentration of eight key pollutants. These include PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia and lead. The system uses average values of these pollutants, with the pollutant showing the highest sub-index determining the overall AQI for any given location.
Particulate Matter Levels Skyrocket
Data revealed particulate matter levels far exceeding permissible limits at multiple stations. At Anand Vihar, PM2.5 concentration reached 890 micrograms per cubic metre at 1 am. This measurement is nearly 15 times higher than the national daily standard and a staggering 59 times above the World Health Organisation's recommended safe limit.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Nehru Nagar recorded an even more alarming peak PM2.5 level of 952 micrograms per cubic metre on Saturday night. These extreme values demonstrate the severity of the pollution crisis gripping the capital.
Experts Explain the Causes
Environmental experts attribute the sharp spike in pollution to a combination of factors. Local emissions from various sources combined with unfavourable meteorological conditions to create this hazardous situation. Low wind speeds significantly reduced dispersion, causing pollutants to stagnate over the city instead of being carried away.
Such conditions, experts warn, substantially increase health risks for vulnerable populations. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory illnesses face particular danger during these severe pollution episodes. The stagnant air allows harmful particles to accumulate, creating a toxic environment that affects everyone's health.
The current situation underscores the ongoing challenge Delhi faces in managing air quality, especially during winter months when meteorological conditions often worsen pollution levels. Residents continue to grapple with the immediate impacts on daily life while authorities monitor the situation closely.
