The air quality in Delhi remains a cause for concern as the city endures a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at a ‘very poor’ level, registering a reading of 372 on Friday. As the city wakes up to a thick haze, the Central Pollution Control Board reports the continuation of ‘very poor’ air quality levels on Saturday morning.
In specific areas, the AQI readings paint a grim picture: Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 388, Ashok Vihar at 386, Lodhi Road at 349, and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 366. This poor air quality led to the diversion of 18 flights from the Delhi airport to Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Amritsar due to low visibility, while multiple parts of the capital remained shrouded in smog.
While Friday’s AQI showed a slight improvement from the near ‘severe’ levels recorded on Thursday (398), the city’s temperature rose marginally. The minimum temperature was recorded at 13.3°C, three degrees above the norm, while the maximum stood at 25.4°C, slightly below average but a notch higher than the previous day.
The Commission for Air Quality Management’s Early Warning System predicts a prolonged stretch of ‘very poor’ air quality, anticipated to persist from December 2 to 4, with a similar outlook for the subsequent six days.
Saturday morning also witnessed moderate fog, reducing visibility to 400 meters, further complicating the prevalent air quality issues. Meteorological forecasts suggest no substantial changes in weather conditions for the upcoming days.
November showcased a distressing pattern for Delhi’s air quality, witnessing nine ‘severe’ AQI days (over 400) and an additional nine on the brink of ‘near-severe’ levels (between 390 and 400). The ‘very poor’ AQI persisted for 17 days, while ‘poor’ conditions prevailed for four days.
The Commission for Air Quality Management attributed the deteriorating air quality to unfavorable meteorological conditions compounded by paddy harvesting activities during Diwali across the city and its adjoining areas. The concern for Delhi’s air quality remains pronounced, signaling ongoing challenges for the region’s environmental health.
Sources By Agencies