Rising Pollution Pushes Delhi’s Air Quality Toward Severe Levels

Delhi began this morning with depleted air quality, with the Air Quality Index being primarily very poor in most areas of the capital. In fact, records from air quality monitoring systems indicate that air pollution levels significantly deteriorated, especially around areas where there is intense industry and traffic and are largely near the severe category.

Industries and Traffic Areas Adversely Affected

Area-wise data found that heavily industrialized and trafficked areas were the most polluted. Bawana recorded the highest AQI at 378, followed by Mundka (370), Pusa (365), and Rohini (364). Other areas like ITO, Wazirpur, Nehru Nagar, Jahangirpuri, and NSIT Dwarka also recorded AQI values around 360. This affects healthy individuals as well because the levels for a prolonged period indicate very poor air quality

Residential and Commercial Areas Also Affected

The level of air pollution was high in the industrial areas as well as in residential as well as commercial areas. Regions such as Ashok Nagar, DTU, Sirifort, Vivek Vihar, Shadipur, RK Puram, Dwarka Sector-8, and the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range had levels in the 340s and 350s. This revealed that air pollution was present. Regions in North Delhi, which included Chandni Chowk, Punjabi Bagh, Patparganj, and North Campus of Delhi University, remained in the very poor category.

Even Greener Areas Affected

Even in relatively greener parts of the city or those that are less congested, there was some indication of poor air quality. Lodhi Road & CRRI Mathura Road was on the borderline of poor and very poor categories, whereas Aya Nagar & IGI Airport Terminal 3 had relatively low but still poor air quality. The lowest AQI was recorded in IHBAS, Dilshad Garden, & Mandir Marg, but even their categories are poor.

Health Advisory for Residents

Breathing air of Delhi today is equally harmful to smoking 8.5 cigarettes a day which is highly toxic according to AQI.in. Experts advise people to stay at home or while going outside, wear N-95 masks, switch on air purifiers at home, and make sure that air filters in cars are working properly.

Children, elderly people, and those with heart or respiratory problems are at the higher risk from Delhi’s air quality. They are highly advised to stay at home as much as possible. With the prevailing weather conditions offering nothing but respite and sources like traffic emissions, industrialization, and seasonal changes adding to this, it may be expected that air quality will continue to remain adverse in the coming days unless stringent measures are imposed in this regard.