Delhi-NCR Chokes: Toxic Air, 'Very Poor' Pollution Levels Make Breathing a Struggle

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The national capital witnessed a sharp drop in air quality on Sunday morning, with pollution levels reaching the 'very poor' category and touching the 'severe' level in many parts of Delhi-NCR. The AQI crossed the 400 mark in areas like Wazirpur, Bawana and Rohini.

Delhi remained shrouded in a thick blanket of smog on Sunday morning. Due to low wind speed, a mixture of smoke and fog engulfed the entire city, significantly reducing visibility. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 6:30 am was 372, which falls in the 'very poor' category. The most polluted areas included Wazirpur (425), Bawana (410), Rohini (409), RK Puram (418) and Dwarka (401), where pollution levels remained at 'hazardous' levels.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, air quality remained alarmingly poor in the NCR region as well. In Delhi-NCR, the city recorded 312 in Faridabad, 325 in Gurugram, 308 in Greater Noida, 322 in Ghaziabad, and 301 in Noida.

The primary weather station at Safdarjung in Delhi recorded visibility at 900 metres and at Palam at 1,300 metres due to a mix of fog and mist.

Earlier, air pollution in Delhi-NCR was already in the "very poor" category, with the AQI reaching 303 on Saturday night. However, winds were very slow, at around 4 km per hour. This caused smoke and pollution to accumulate and reduced visibility.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 30.5 degrees Celsius, about three degrees below the seasonal average, and the minimum temperature settled at 19.4 degrees Celsius, slightly above normal. The humidity on Saturday evening was 73 percent, which further aggravated the haze.