New Delhi: The air quality in the national capital dipped further on Friday morning with AQI settling in the ‘poor’ category. The city recorded the air quality index (AQI) at 292 around 7 am. In view of the surge in air pollution levels, an orange alert has also been issued across the city.
As per the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), an AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, between 51 and 100 is considered satisfactory, between 101 and 200 is considered moderate, between 201 and 300 is considered poor, between 301 and 400 very poor, and between 401 and 500 is considered severe.
Delhi weather
The national capital recorded the minimum temperature at 19.2 degrees Celsius, which is 1.1 degrees above the normal. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 36 degrees Celsius, said the IMD.
As the winters begin to approach the city, the air pollution has also returned. Stubble burning incidents have not increased yet, and Diwali is yet to be celebrated. Delhi residents are questioning the surge in air pollutants levels. In the past few days, the AQI in the city is hovering between 250 and 300.
Pollution hotspots in Delhi
The AQI at India Gate dropped to 270 on Friday. Ares like Anand Vihar also witnessed ‘very poor’ air quality with AQI at 339. Here’s the list of most polluted areas in the national capital:
| Pollution hotspots in Delhi | |
| Area | AQI |
| Anand Vihar | 346 |
| Alipur | 308 |
| Burari | 327 |
| Bawana | 331 |
| Jahangirpuri | 354 |
| Dwarka | 328 |
| Narela | 320 |
| Mundka | 373 |
| Rohini | 362 |
Vulnerable groups at risk
Even after the Delhi government enforced the Stage 1 of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), there has been no let up in air pollution levels in the city. Under GRAP-I, construction and demolition works have been temporarily banned. In addition to this, water is being sprinkled on the roads to reduce dust.
Despite the measures, the air quality has not witnessed much improvement, aggravating health concerns like cough, cold, and respiratory issues. The air quality in Delhi has been in ‘poor’ category for four consecutive days now, which increases health risks for vulnerable groups, including children and elderly.
