Thick Smog Blankets Delhi as Air Quality Reaches Hazardous Levels
On Sunday morning, residents of Delhi woke up to a heavy layer of toxic smog that significantly reduced visibility throughout the city. As reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 390 by 7 am, placing Delhi in the ‘very poor’ air quality category.
The situation worsened in various neighborhoods, with places like Akshardham and Ghazipur registering alarming AQI levels of 438, marking them as some of the most polluted areas in the capital. East Delhi’s Anand Vihar also hit a concerning AQI level of 438. The ITO area was not far behind, recording an AQI of 405, once again categorized as ‘severe.’
Central parts of the city, including India Gate and Kartavya Path, remained foggy, with an AQI reading of 381. Surrounding the Barapullah flyover, pollution levels reached 382, while Dhaula Kuan recorded a reading of 397, both indicating very poor air quality.
In response to the worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated all measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV for the Delhi-NCR region. This includes halting non-essential construction work, limiting certain diesel vehicles from entering the area, and stepping up enforcement to tackle pollution.
Meanwhile, areas in Uttar Pradesh experienced dense fog and colder temperatures. The India Meteorological Department reported that Ayodhya recorded a low of 8 degrees Celsius, while Moradabad faced cold wave conditions with temperatures dropping to 10 degrees Celsius.
