NEW DELHI: A thin layer of smog covered parts of New Delhi on Sunday, placing the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ‘very poor’ category. Most areas in the city reported an AQI over 350, raising concerns about residents’ health.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 364 at 7am on Sunday. Specific areas like New Moti Bagh, RK Puram, Vivek Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, and Lodhi Road reported AQI levels of 352, 380, 388, 385, and 330, respectively, all in the ‘very poor’ category.
Nehru Nagar and Anand Vihar were in the ‘severe’ category with AQI levels of 431 and 427. Burari recorded an AQI of 385, identified as ‘very poor.’
An AQI between 200 and 300 is considered ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 ‘very poor,’ 401-450 ‘severe,’ and above 450 ‘severe plus.’
Aditya, a Delhi resident, commented, “It is very difficult to breathe… this is not a time we can go out and do exercise; pollution is affecting our eyes.”
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that 200 mobile anti-smog guns would be deployed across the city to combat dust pollution. He mentioned, “Whether it is dust pollution, vehicle pollution, or biomass burning, our teams are continuously working on targeting these three on the ground.”
SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) reported an AQI of 296 at 7 AM on Saturday in Delhi. Specifically, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 380, ITO 253, RK Puram 346, IGI Airport T3 342, and Dwarka Sector 8 308.
In Mumbai, Marine Drive was also covered by a thick layer of smog, with an AQI of 208, categorised as ‘poor’.
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