Air pollution surges in Delhi, AQI 'very poor' at 363; relief unlikely

File Photo/PTI

The air quality in the national capital Delhi deteriorated on Tuesday morning due to unfavorable meteorological conditions, with no immediate relief in sight. At 8 am, the capital's air quality index (AQI) stood at 363, categorized as 'very poor,' based on data from nine out of the 40 monitoring stations. The remaining stations did not generate enough data for indexing.

Despite recent rainfall, Delhi witnessed a spike in pollution levels on Monday, with a return of smoky haze after the Diwali night firecracker ban was disregarded. According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company, Delhi claimed the unenviable title of the world's most polluted city on Monday, followed by Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan. Mumbai and Kolkata also featured among the top polluted cities globally, ranking fifth and sixth, respectively.

While Delhi experienced its best air quality in eight years on Diwali day, recording an AQI of 218, the subsequent firecracker bursting led to a pollution surge amid low temperatures. The AQI rose from 275 at 7 am on Monday to 358 by 4 pm.

Attributing the post-Diwali pollution spike to fireworks and crop residue burning, a Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) official stated that fireworks played a significant role in the recent surge. PM2.5 concentration exceeded safe limits by 30 to 35 times in several areas, with concentrations exceeding 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter in places like Okhla and Jahangirpuri.

Also read: Mumbai's air quality maintains moderate levels; AQI at 130

Across India, cities observed a rapid rise in air pollution levels after Diwali, as evidenced by AQI increases in various regions. The CAQM official emphasized that stringent measures under the Graded Response Action Plan, including a ban on construction work and entry of polluting trucks in Delhi, will continue. Stubble burning incidents are rising again, and meteorological conditions are unfavorable for pollutant dispersion, necessitating a review of the situation and appropriate action.

Meanwhile, the country's financial capital Mumbai finds itself in the 'moderate' category, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 130, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India) at 1 pm.

Breaking down the city's AQI further, various locations reported distinct readings. BKC Kalanagar recorded 172, Navi Mumbai at 174, Andheri at 114, Borivali at 170, and Colaba at 109. These variations indicate localized differences in air quality within the city.

While the overall air quality in Mumbai is categorized as 'moderate,' specific areas like BKC Kalanagar and Navi Mumbai are experiencing slightly higher levels. These readings prompt continued attention to local factors influencing air pollution.

In comparison, Pune's overall air quality is labeled as "poor," with an AQI of 215, signifying a relatively higher pollution level than Mumbai. (With additional inputs from PTI)