New Delhi, Nov 9: The Air Quality Index (AQI) across several parts of Delhi-NCR plunged into ‘very poor’ category with the city waking up to a thick blanket of smog on Sunday.
The situtation was even worse in some areas as AQI readings slipped into the ‘severe’ zone.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports, at least 24 out of 39 monitoring stations in the region recorded AQI levels above 400 with the 24-hour average AQI stood at 361. It marks the highest pollution spike of the season so far.
The affected areas that registered alarming figures include Wazirpur (424), Bawana (424), Vivek Vihar (415), Rohini (435), Nehru Nagar (426), Bawana (426), RK Puram (422), and ITO (420).
The average AQI stood at 391 in Delhi, 391 in Noida, 366 in Greater Noida, 387 in Ghaziabad, and 252 in Gurugram.
A day earlier, CPCB data had identified Delhi as the most polluted city in the country, with neighbouring NCR cities reflecting a similar crisis. Noida (354), Greater Noida (336), and Ghaziabad (339) also recorded hazardous air quality levels, underscoring the region’s worsening pollution problem.
According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) report issued on Saturday, the minimum temperature is expected to hover around 13°C over the next week. Cold morning and evening winds are adding to the winter chill, while no rainfall is predicted for now. The weather is likely to remain foggy in the coming days.
Health advisories warn that prolonged exposure to poor air quality can greatly increase the risk of lung and respiratory ailments, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart conditions.
Health experts are advising residents to minimize outdoor activities—particularly in the early morning and late evening—wear protective masks, and avoid direct exposure to polluted air.
