Toxic Sunday: Delhi chokes as AQI turns ‘severe’, breaches 400 across NCR

Delhi AQI Today: A thick blanket of smog covered Delhi-NCR on Sunday, November 9, with the air quality index (AQI) reaching the 'very poor' category in many parts of the city. The situation worsened in some areas as the AQI level reached the 'severe' category.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said the 24-hour average AQI was 361. The data showed that 24 of the 39 monitoring stations in the region recorded AQI levels above 400 – the highest pollution level so far this season. Worrying figures were recorded at Wazirpur (424), Bawana (424) and Vivek Vihar (415) stations.

The worst-affected areas include Rohini (435), Nehru Nagar (426), Bawana (426), RK Puram (422) and ITO (420). The average AQI was recorded at 391 in Delhi, 391 in Noida, 366 in Greater Noida, 387 in Ghaziabad and 252 in Gurugram.

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On Saturday, CPCB data had declared Delhi as the most polluted city in India. The situation was similar in neighbouring NCR cities, where air quality levels were found to be hazardous in Noida (354), Greater Noida (336) and Ghaziabad (339).

According to the latest report of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, the minimum temperature is expected to remain around 13 degrees Celsius for the next seven days. Cold morning and evening winds are adding to the chill. There's no rain expected at this time, and the weather is likely to remain foggy.

According to health advisories, prolonged exposure to such poor air quality can significantly increase the risk of lung and respiratory diseases, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma or heart disease.

The IMD said the drop in pollution levels is linked to falling temperatures, which make the air heavier and reduce wind speed, trapping pollutants near the surface. The combination of fog and haze is making the smog even thicker. Construction activities and vehicle emissions remain major contributing factors.

Health experts have advised residents to limit outdoor activities, especially in the early morning and late evening hours, wear protective masks and avoid direct exposure to polluted air.

With IANS Inputs