Alarming rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR, AQI drops to 328 | DETAILS

In the winter season, Delhi encounters intense pollution attributed to various factors like reduced wind speeds, decreasing temperatures, elevated moisture levels, and the existence of pollution particles that serve as condensation nuclei.

In Delhi’s ITO area, a blanket of smog has descended as the Air Quality Index (AQI) registers 295, marking it as ‘Poor’ as per the CPCB. The AQI in the vicinity of Delhi has also decreased to 328, reaching ‘Very Poor’ levels. With the onset of cold weather, pollution has intensified its hold on Delhi, persisting in the “poor” range, despite a reduction in stubble burning compared to previous years. Monitoring stations like Anand Vihar, Bawana, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Rohini, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, and Wazirpur remain in the high alert “red zone” status.

As per a recent research conducted by Professor S N Tripathi from IIT-Kanpur, it has been observed that the air quality in Delhi has worsened in the past week, consistently registering in the “poor” category on the Air Quality Index (AQI). This decline comes after a short period of comparatively better air quality experienced over the previous three weeks. Experts point to seasonal variations and heightened stubble burning as the main factors contributing to the surge in pollution levels. The study highlights a decreasing trend in the number of fires, a key indicator of stubble burning, over the last five years in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

Delhi residents are starting to sense a mild chill in the mornings and evenings as winter draws near. The weather department reported a maximum temperature of 35.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which is 3.2 degrees above the seasonal average.