Delhi’s pollution crisis deepens with ‘severe’ AQI
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New Delhi: Delhi continued to reel under hazardous air conditions on Sunday, with pollution levels showing no sign of relief as winter weather tightened its grip.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 400 mark at most monitoring stations, placing the capital firmly in the ‘severe’ category. At 8 a.m., Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data recorded AQI readings of 421 at Ashok Vihar, 422 at Rohini, 417 at ITO and 410 at Punjabi Bagh. The CPCB defines AQI between 401 and 500 as ‘severe’, posing serious health risks across all age groups.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the city’s acute pollution is largely driven by PM10 emissions from construction activity, dusty roads and heavy traffic. He added that authorities are intensifying efforts to identify and address pollution hotspots.
Falling temperatures have worsened the situation, with dust particles settling into the atmosphere and forming dense smog. Sirsa also noted that emissions from industrial units relocated to neighbouring states continue to drift into Delhi’s airspace.
According to the Decision Support System (DSS) of IITM Pune, stubble burning contributed 16.3 per cent to Delhi’s pollution load on Saturday, while vehicular emissions accounted for 18.3 per cent, the highest among all sources. DSS estimates stubble burning will contribute 14.5 per cent on Sunday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast mist or shallow fog in the mornings, with partly cloudy skies expected on November 18 and 19. Maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may settle around 12 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the IMD has issued severe cold-wave alerts for large parts of central India.
(Inputs from IANS)