Delhi's AQI nears 500, reaches severe levels in many areas; visibility drops amid dense fog

On Friday morning, Delhi's air quality plummeted to hazardous levels, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) registering 403 at 8:40 am, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. ANI reported an average AQI of 494 at 7:31 am. Dense fog combined with pollution reduced visibility in several areas, while numerous monitoring stations reported severe pollution levels.

An AQI of 403 falls within the severe range, affecting even healthy individuals, while those with pre-existing health issues may experience more severe consequences. Contributing factors to the pollution include vehicle exhaust, industrial activity, construction dust, waste, and biomass burning. Slow wind speeds, limited atmospheric mixing, and temperature inversions trap pollutants near the ground, hindering their dispersal.

Fog, composed of minute water droplets, and smog, containing air pollutants like particulate matter and gases, can occur together, diminishing visibility and exacerbating air quality issues. The Delhi government responded by deploying water sprinklers and implementing Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes restrictions on non-essential construction and demolition, alongside measures from the initial two stages.

IIT Delhi recorded the highest AQI of 488, followed by ITO at 455, JNU at 451, Anand Vihar at 419, Rohini at 413, and Rajokri Border at 402, all of which are classified as severe. Over 33 stations in the capital reported AQI readings exceeding 400, falling within the severe category. The Delhi government's deployment of water sprinklers aimed to mitigate the worsening air quality.

However, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized the BJP-led Delhi government, alleging that CPCB's AQI data is 49% lower than the actual figures, based on a Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report.