The national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘Severe’ category for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday morning.
A dense fog engulfed Delhi and surrounding areas on Saturday morning as the national capital’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the ‘Severe’ category for the fourth consecutive day.
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At 6 am, the national capital’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 404, placing it in the ‘Severe’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Several areas registered even higher levels, with Alipur at 433, Anand Vihar at 436, and Ashok Vihar reaching 438.
There are six categories of AQI, namely ‘Good’ (0-50), ‘Satisfactory’ (51-100), ‘Moderately polluted’ (101-200), ‘Poor’ (201-300), ‘Very Poor’ (301-400), and ‘Severe’ (401-500).
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While GRAP-3 is in effect, construction and demolition works will be halted, all non-essential mining activities will be suspended, and non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses will be restricted. The schools have been ordered to switch to online teaching for students of classes up to 5 in Delhi-NCR.
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What’s Causing Air Pollution
In New Delhi, air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category for 14 consecutive days until Tuesday evening, with vehicular emissions being the largest contributor at 15.4 percent.
Experts noted that stubble burning in neighboring states further aggravated the situation, enveloping the city in a thick layer of smog. Levels of key pollutants—PM2.5 and PM10—remained dangerously high.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Air Quality Warning System indicated that slow wind speeds are expected to persist, making meteorological conditions highly unfavorable for effective pollutant dispersion.
