The national capital woke up to a dense layer of toxic smog on Wednesday morning, as the city’s air quality continued its decline, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering in the ‘Very Poor’ category, recorded at 376 at 7 am by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
This deterioration follows a brief respite earlier in the week, pushing numerous key monitoring stations across Delhi into the most hazardous ‘Severe’ category (AQI 401-500).
Multiple Stations Hit ‘Severe’ Levels
Visibility was severely affected, with a thick curtain of haze enveloping prominent landmarks like the India Gate and Kartavya Path, where the AQI was recorded at 356. However, the situation was far more alarming in several hotspots where the AQI surpassed the 400-mark:
- Chandani Chowk: 431 (Severe)
- Anand Vihar: 405 (Severe)
- Jahangirpuri: 406 (Severe)
- Ashok Vihar: 403 (Severe)
Other stations across the city, including Alipur (366), Aya Nagar (360), Burari (396), Dhaula Kuan (303), and Dwarka (377), remained firmly in the ‘Very Poor’ category (AQI 301-400).
Health Risks Remain High
The ‘Very Poor’ air quality poses a risk of respiratory illnesses even to healthy individuals, especially with prolonged exposure. The ‘Severe’ category, which most monitoring stations are approaching or have breached, is considered dangerous for everyone, threatening to trigger acute symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and chest discomfort. Doctors caution that constant exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) can lead to serious long-term health issues, including chronic respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
The widespread pollution across the capital underscores the persistent challenge of air quality management as winter conditions, marked by low wind speeds and a drop in temperature, trap pollutants close to the ground. Markets are now awaiting the RBI’s monetary policy review on Friday for clarity on currency stabilization measures.