New Delhi: A thick blanket of toxic haze covered the capital on Sunday as smog chokes Delhi-NCR as AQI breaches 400, sending air quality levels into the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ zones. Consequently, the city’s skyline disappeared behind layers of smog, sparking major health and environmental concerns.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average AQI stood at 361 the highest this season so far. In fact, 24 out of 39 monitoring stations recorded AQI readings above 400, indicating a widespread pollution crisis.
Pollution hotspots such as Rohini (435), Nehru Nagar (426), Bawana (424), Wazirpur (424), RK Puram (422), and ITO (420) reported alarming levels. Meanwhile, the average AQI reached 391 in Delhi, 391 in Noida, 366 in Greater Noida, 387 in Ghaziabad, and 252 in Gurugram, showing that the entire NCR is choking under toxic air.
Moreover, meteorologists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) linked the pollution spike to falling temperatures and calm winds, which prevent pollutants from dispersing. As a result, smog remains trapped close to the surface. With no rainfall predicted this week, visibility is likely to stay poor, especially during mornings and evenings.
Additionally, health experts have warned that prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory issues, heart problems, and lung infections. Therefore, they advise citizens to stay indoors, wear N95 masks outdoors, and limit outdoor activities.
Environmentalists believe that vehicular emissions, industrial smoke, and construction dust continue to fuel the crisis. Hence, they are urging both authorities and residents to act quickly as smog chokes Delhi-NCR as AQI breaches 400, once again turning the city into a pollution hotspot.
–IANS
