Delhi air pollution ‘severe’ as AQI breaches 400 mark due to rise in farm fires
pollution levels could worsen in Delhi-NCR over the next few days as the smoky haze blanketed the national capital on Thursday due to a surge in farm fires and unfavourable weather conditions. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 415 on a scale of 500 in the capital's Anand Vihar area on Thursday, that indicate “severe" levels of pollution that can affect people’s health and those with existing ailments.
The Delhi government has announced a ban on the entry of diesel buses, and said that construction activities will be halted if the situation persists. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the visibility reduced to just 500 metres at the Safdarjung Observatory around 7 am, gradually improving to 800 metres as temperatures increased during the day.
Cold temperatures create stable atmospheric conditions, known as temperature inversions, where a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the ground, allowing the accumulation of pollutants. The AQI at several areas in Delhi was recorded as -- Punjabi Bagh (439), Dwarka Sector-8 (420), Jahangirpuri (403), Rohini (422), Narela (422), Wazirpur (406), Bawana (432), Mundka (439), Anand Vihar (452) and New Moti Bagh (406), recorded 'severe' air quality.
The concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and trigger respiratory problems, exceeded the safe limit of 60 microgramme per cubic metre by six to seven times in these areas. At 3 pm, the AQI in Delhi reached 378.
The 24-hour average AQI was 364 on Wednesday, 359 on Tuesday, 347 on Monday, 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday, and 261 on Friday. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’,
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