Delhi chokes as AQI soars to 423, IMD issues orange alert amid dense fog conditions

India’s national capital, New Delhi, woke up to a chilly morning on Thursday (Dec 19) as the temperatures dropped to 7 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the capital’s air quality fell into the “severe category” as the AQI increased to 423, as stated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB); any AQI exceeding or equal to 400 is critical. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared an orange alert for Delhi and warned that there will be dense fog in the city for the next two days due to western disturbances. 

AQI showed a severe plus level out of the total 36 monitoring stations. The pollution levels had been recorded as severe and hazardous on Wednesday, with the air quality index shooting up to 448 at 6 pm. 

While readings were exceeding 480 at several of them, which is creating a condition extremely dangerous for the citizens.

Regions like Anand Vihar, Bawana, Burari, Dwarka, ITO, Jahangirpuri, North Campus DU, etc., had been listed as having severe plus levels of air quality. 

Whereas on Tuesday the AQI had been recorded at 433 at 4 pm and 379 on Monday. The days ahead were covered with shallow fog throughout the city and some regions in the outskirts, and it was followed by a layer of thick smell in the air which was another challenge for the citizens causing discomfort. 

The nation continues to remain in an appalling blanket of air pollution. GRAP IV, which is the harshest anti-pollution measure, is here to improve things. Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which is the highest-level intervention measure against pollution, has already been triggered along with banning construction activities and nonessential polluting trucks from entering Delhi.

Stages of GRAP are set as follows: Stage I—Poor, where AQI levels lie between 201 and 300; Stage II—Very Poor, where AQI levels lie between 301 and 400; Stage III—Severe, where AQI levels lie between 401 and 450; Stage IV—Severe Plus, where AQI levels exceed 450. 

With this, there is a hope that things will improve and Delhi will get back to its same energy in the fresh air on the bright side because every cloud has a silver lining.

(With inputs from agencies)