• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 300 mark and reached the ‘very poor’ category on Monday morning. According to the latest data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Delhi recorded an AQI of 306 at Kartavya Path, indicating a respiratory health emergency in the National Capital Region (NCR). 

On Sunday, the AQI was 302, when it was also in the ‘very poor’ category. The air quality around Delhi University, IGI Terminal T3, New Moti Bagh, Dwarka Sector-8 and Anand Vihar was also in the ‘very poor’ range, with AQIs ranging from 309 to 360. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI of 345 in New Delhi.

"I think pollution levels have been rising in Delhi for the past 10-12 days. We can feel it in our eyes today. The smog is dense...I think the situation is not good at all. We, the cyclists, carry masks and bandanas with us, but I don't think there is any alternative, and if you have to be on the road, you have to face it,’’ a cyclist at India Gate said as reported by ANI. 

The air quality in Noida was recorded in the ‘poor’ category on Sunday morning with an AQI of 322, as per SAFAR-India. On Sunday, Noida recorded an AQI of 290 while Gurugram had better air quality, with an AQI of 152, which was in the ‘moderate’ category.

ALSO READ: Dehradun Police Seizes Fake Medicines Worth Rs 20 Lakhs In Delhi; Two Arrested

According to the SAFAR, the air quality in Kartavya Path at India Gate was recorded at 266 on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Noida recorded an AQI of 290 (poor) and Gurugram 152 (moderate). Anand Vihar breached the very poor category in New Delhi with an AQI of 345, IT0 with an AQI of 309, New Moti Bagh with an AQI of 360 and Dwarka Sector-8 recorded an AQI of 313.

The main reason for the deteriorating air quality is the fall in temperature and the smoke of stubble in Punjab and Haryana reaching Delhi with the northwest wind. The air quality has been forecasted to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the next few days.

The second phase of GRAP has been implemented in Delhi to combat air pollution. GRAP has four stages based on air quality: Stage 1 - ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300), Stage 2 - ‘Very poor’ (AQI 301-400), Stage 3 - ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 - ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI above -450).

ALSO READ: Three Arrested For Posing As ED Officials In Delhi, Duping Man Of Rs 3.20 Cr

Air Quality In Mumbai

On Monday morning, Mumbai’s air quality was in the ‘moderate’ range with an air quality index of 127, as per the system of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research, Safar-India.

The air quality in Mumbai was also ‘moderate’ on Tuesday last week, with an air quality index of 115 which has slightly deteriorated as the metropolitan had ‘good’ air quality earlier this month.