Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 14: Air pollution in Delhi and surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) worsened on Sunday, plunging the city into hazardous conditions as a thick layer of smog sharply reduced visibility and posed serious health risks. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 461 at 7 am, up from 431 on Saturday, with all 40 monitoring stations in the ‘severe’ category.
Rohini topped the list with an AQI of 499, followed by Bawana at 498, Vivek Vihar at 495, and Ashok Vihar and Wazirpur at 493. Even greener areas such as Lodhi Road and Najafgarh recorded hazardous levels of 400 and 404 respectively. In the NCR, Noida and Ghaziabad faced severe air pollution at 470 and 460 AQI, while Gurugram and Faridabad recorded 348 and 220.
Dense fog mixed with toxic smog reduced visibility to near zero in several areas, prompting low-visibility procedures at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of dense fog in the early hours, with visibility expected to improve to around 800 metres later in the day.
Meteorological factors including a feeble western disturbance and weak winds trapped pollutants close to the ground, worsening the smog. Authorities invoked Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the NCR, implementing emergency measures such as banning BS-IV diesel trucks, shutting down construction, mining, and stone-crushing activities, and moving classes for students from Class VI to IX and XI to hybrid learning.
Health advisories urged children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular issues to remain indoors and wear masks if venturing outside. Prolonged exposure to AQI levels above 400 can trigger respiratory distress, eye irritation, reduced lung function, and cardiovascular complications.
Earlier relief from pollution proved short-lived, with AQI briefly dipping to 282 earlier this week before rising again. Authorities continue to warn that hazardous conditions may persist in the coming days, affecting public health and daily life across Delhi-NCR.