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Air pollution

Delhi's Air Quality Plummets to "Very Poor" Category, posing Serious Health Risks

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The air in Delhi turned visibly murky on Sunday, with toxic smog blanketing the skyline and causing a sharp spike in pollution levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 366, marking the second-highest 24-hour AQI for this season. The dominant pollutant was Particulate Matter (PM2.5), and 28 out of 39 air quality monitoring stations recorded "very poor" air, while three slipped into the "severe" zone. The worst-hit areas included Wazirpur (416), Burari (403), and Vivek Vihar (401). The city also woke up under a toxic, suffocating blanket of smog on Sunday morning, with several areas bearing the brunt of severe pollution levels.

Key Takeaways:

  • Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 366, marking the second-highest 24-hour AQI for this season.
  • Particulate Matter (PM2.5) was the dominant pollutant behind the capital's worsening air.
  • 28 out of 39 air quality monitoring stations recorded "very poor" air, while three slipped into the "severe" zone.
  • The worst-hit areas included Wazirpur (416), Burari (403), and Vivek Vihar (401).
  • The city's natural ventilation was disabled by dense morning fog and near-zero wind speeds.
  • Westerly winds prevailed over Delhi in the past 24 hours with speeds gusting up to 30 Kmph.
  • The AQI around AIIMS skyrocketed to 421, joining a growing list of hotspots across Delhi reporting readings well beyond 400.

Statistics:

  • The city's 24-hour average AQI was 366.
  • The AQI around AIIMS was 421.
  • 28 out of 39 air quality monitoring stations recorded "very poor" air.
  • 3 out of 39 air quality monitoring stations recorded "severe" air.
  • Westerly winds prevailed over Delhi in the past 24 hours with speeds gusting up to 30 Kmph.
  • The worst-hit areas had AQI readings of 416 (Wazirpur), 403 (Burari), and 401 (Vivek Vihar).

Sources:

  • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • India Meteorological Department (IMD)
  • United News of India (with permission)

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