Delhi Air Pollution: AQI Hits ‘Severe’ Levels, Air Quality Remains Dangerous

After getting the marginal improvement on Monday morning. Delhi air pollution worsened again on Tuesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to ‘very poor’ levels by evening, and continuing to hover in the same category the next morning. By 6:30 am on November 26, the AQI stood at hazardous levels of 396. With several monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400, placing them in the ‘severe’ category.

Read More: Toxic Air, Rising Health Risks: Every Delhi-NCR Family Affected by Pollution, Survey Reports

Key Air Quality Updates From Delhi Air Pollution:

• Severe Pollution in Many Areas: Of Delhi’s 38 air quality-monitoring stations, 18 reported AQI levels over 400, indicating ‘severe’ pollution. Some of the worst-hit areas include Anand Vihar (432), Ashok Vihar (420), Mundka (443), Rohini (432), and Vivek Vihar (432).
• Marginal Improvement on Monday: On Monday morning, the air quality got slightly improved. The AQI dropped below 300 in some areas. The Lodhi Road station, for example, recorded an AQI of 95, which is categorized as ‘satisfactory’. However, this relief was short-lived, as pollution levels surged again due to stagnant winds by the evening.
• Worsening Conditions Due to Weather: The air quality worsened again by the evening as low winds failed to disperse pollutants. Furthermore at 7 pm on Monday, the AQI levels shot back up to 377. By Tuesday morning, the situation remained dire, with the AQI still well above 300 in most areas.

Read More: Delhi’s Air Quality Index Declines: Residents Plead For Relief Amid Toxic Smog Crisis

What’s Causing The Pollution?

The main factors driving Delhi’s pollution include:

1. Vehicular Emissions: Contributing 16.4% of the pollution on Monday.
2. Stubble Burning: Responsible for 11% of the pollution on Sunday.
3. Weather Conditions: Stagnant winds and dropping temperatures trap pollutants near the ground, making the air quality worse.

Impact on Schools and Education: The Supreme Court has urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider resuming physical classes in schools. Moreover the court also gave a statement saying that students are missing out on mid-day meals and are unable to attend virtual classes.

In response, the CAQM has relaxed restrictions, allowing hybrid classes where students can choose to attend either in-person or online. This option will be available in Delhi and surrounding areas like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida.

Government Response and GRAP Stage 4: Delhi reached hazardous air quality levels on November 17, triggering the implementation of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) Stage-4, which includes measures like banning non-essential truck traffic. However, the Supreme Court criticized the Delhi government for not properly enforcing these measures.

Weather Forecast: Delhi’s weather on Monday was cooler than usual, with the temperature recorded at 25.8°C, which is slightly below the seasonal average. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts moderate fog for Tuesday, with temperatures expected to range between 12°C and 26°C.

Conclusion: Delhi’s air quality continues to remain in the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories, with little improvement expected in the coming days. Efforts to manage the pollution are ongoing, but the weather conditions and high vehicular emissions are proving challenging. Meanwhile, the city is taking steps to adjust educational policies to ensure that students are not left behind.