New Delhi's air quality turns SevereHot Buzz

December 23, 2024 14:52
New Delhi's air quality turns Severe

(Image source from: Indiatoday.in)

The residents of Delhi are facing the challenges of winter cold combined with hazardous air quality. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached an unhealthy level of 406 at 3 pm on Sunday, indicating a return to the 'severe' category after a brief respite on Saturday when the AQI dropped to the 'very poor' category. The overall average 24-hour AQI at 8 am on Saturday was recorded at 395. This cycle of pollution has been ongoing since the night of December 16, when Delhi's air first plunged into hazardous territory. Despite a slight improvement in air quality on the night of December 20, the smog and pollution surged back to alarming levels by Sunday afternoon. The first half of December provided some temporary relief, with air quality rated as 'moderate' on six days, following an exceptionally polluted November, where air quality remained in the 'poor' category. In response to the deteriorating air conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) IV in Delhi from December 16 onwards.

The region's air quality deteriorated to the 'severe' level due to unfavorable weather conditions. The pollution management framework, known as GRAP, categorizes air quality into four stages: Stage I (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (Severe Plus, AQI above 450). These strict measures are intended to prevent further worsening of air pollution. However, experts predict that with calm winds forecasted in the coming days, Delhi's residents are unlikely to experience immediate relief.

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