Delhi weather alert: City faces ‘severe’ air pollution as AQI hits 413, health risks grow

India Gate, Kartavya Path and Rashtrapati Bhavan were blanketed by toxic smog, with an AQI of 384 in the area. File Pic

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at a 'hazardous' level on Tuesday morning, with visibility severely affected and residents facing health risks. At around 8 AM, the AQI soared to 413, indicating an alarming level of pollution.

According to news agency ANI, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that air quality reached 'severe' levels in various areas across the National Capital Region (NCR), causing widespread concern. Several parts of the city continued to experience dangerously high pollution levels.

In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR to tackle the worsening air quality.

Several pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar (466), Chandni Chowk (425), and Ashok Vihar (444), also falling under the 'severe' category across large swathes of the national capital, reported ANI.

India Gate, Kartavya Path and Rashtrapati Bhavan were blanketed by toxic smog, with an AQI of 384 in the area, categorised as 'Very Poor'.

In response to deteriorating air quality, GRAP 4 was invoked in the national capital to curb extreme air pollution, and truck-mounted water sprinklers were deployed.

According to AQI categorisation, 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has taken a series of decisive steps to curb rising pollution levels in the national capital and ensure a cleaner environment. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reiterated that the government will enforce a zero-tolerance policy against all sources of pollution.

A high-level review meeting was held on Monday at the Delhi Secretariat to assess pollution control measures and take effective decisions. Key decisions include strict enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms without any waiver of challans, exploring pooled and shared electric bus services in Delhi-NCR, issuing new guidelines for e-rickshaws and rationalising Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus routes, reported news agency ANI.

Senior officials from the Environment and Transport Departments, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Traffic Police, along with Environment Minister Shri Manjinder Singh Sirsa, were present at the meeting.

(With ANI inputs)