Winter has started making its presence felt in Delhi-NCR, with chilly mornings and cold nights setting in. However, along with the dip in temperature, the air quality across the region has sharply deteriorated. In many parts of the capital, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed the 400 mark, putting the city’s air in the “Severe” category.
Area-wise AQI Levels in Delhi
CPCB’s data shows alarming figures across the capital — Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 412, Alipur 415, and Ashok Vihar 416. The situation was most critical in Bawana, where the AQI reached 436.
Other areas like Chandni Chowk (409), RK Puram (422), Patparganj (425), Sonia Vihar (415), ITO (420), Mundka (412), Okhla (405), and PUSA (406) also reported “Severe” air quality levels.
Air Quality Remained Poor Over the Past Two Days
On Saturday, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “Very Poor” category, with an average AQI of 355 recorded at 8 a.m. The day before, on Friday, it stood at 312. Since Diwali, pollution levels in most parts of Delhi-NCR have consistently ranged between “Poor” and “Very Poor,” with no significant improvement in sight.
According to the latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average AQI stood at 392 on Sunday morning. In Noida, it was 391, while Ghaziabad recorded 387. Experts suggest that the combination of falling temperatures and stagnant wind speed is trapping pollutants near the surface, worsening the air quality further.
GRAP Stage 2 in Force Across Delhi
To combat rising pollution levels, Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remains in effect across the capital. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has already doubled parking fees citywide as part of the control measures.
According to the CPCB:
- 0–50: Good
- 51–100: Satisfactory
- 101–200: Moderate
- 201–300: Poor
- 301–400: Very Poor
- 401–500: Severev
Weather Department’s Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a further drop in temperatures over the coming days. With colder winds and lower dispersion levels, pollution is likely to intensify across Delhi-NCR.
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Priyanshu
