Delhi air quality slips to 'severe' category again after slight improvement

Delhi's air quality, which had shown slight improvement this morning, dipped to 'severe' category again by 6 pm.

In Short

• 19 of 39 stations in Delhi report AQI above 400
• Jahangirpuri records highest AQI at 445
• Anti-pollution measures under GRAP IV in place

Delhi's air quality has once again plunged into the 'Severe' category, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 401 at 6 PM today.

Out of the 39 monitoring stations across the city, 19 have already reported AQI levels in the "Severe" category. Jahangirpuri recorded the highest AQI at 445.

The air quality, which was in the severe and severe plus category for nearly a week, had witnessed a slight improvement on Friday morning. The AQI with the reading of 371 was in 'very poor' category.

However, the air quality worsened during the day, with the AQI standing at 397 around 5 pm, and crossing the 400-mark by 6 pm.

For context, AQI readings are categorised as follows: an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good,” 51 and 100 “satisfactory,” 101 and 200 “moderate,” 201 and 300 “poor,” 301 and 400 “very poor,” and 401 and 500 “severe.”

The rising health pollution levels in Delhi has caused severe health implications in the city residents. A survey conducted by LocalCircles showed that 75 per cent of families in the region have at least one member suffering from respiratory ailments such as sore throat or cough.

Vehicular emission and farm fires in neighbouring states were major contributors to the pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to curb pollution, the city government has asked 50 per cent of its workforce to work from home. The government has ordered staggered office timing for all government employees to avoid congestion on road.

The anti-pollution measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan is currently in place to address the deteriorating air quality. The measures include a ban on truck entry, except for those carrying essential items or using fuels such as LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electric power. Non-essential light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi are also banned unless they run on CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity. Construction at public projects has been stopped.