Smog blankets Delhi as several areas record ‘severe’ AQI; airport issues advisory

The decline in air quality continued across the week

Delhi-NCR woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Saturday, with the overall air quality index (AQI) edging closer to the ‘severe’ category in the national capital, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The decline in AQI in the national capital continued across the week, as the levels moved from 282 on Tuesday to a marginally better 259 on Wednesday, both classified as ‘poor’, before slipping to 307 on Thursday, 349 on Friday, and further worsening to 390 today at 7 am. As of Saturday, over 18 areas of the national capital are recording ‘severe’ air quality.

The air quality situation showed little change across the region, with Indirapuram in Ghaziabad registering a ‘severe’ AQI of 418. Most Noida stations recorded AQI levels above 400 at 7 am, with Greater Noida seeing similar readings. Meanwhile, several areas of Gurugram reported ‘poor’ air quality on Saturday morning.

Experts blamed the sharp decline in air quality on unfavourable weather conditions such as low wind speeds, high moisture levels and falling temperatures, which hindered the dispersion of pollutants. They said the north-westward movement of sluggish winds, coupled with cooler conditions, has worsened air quality across several cities, according to an India Today report.

The CPCB classifies an AQI between 0 and 50 as ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

In view of the smog, the Delhi airport issued an advisory urging passengers to contact the airline concerned. "Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," read the advisory.

A PTI report on Friday revealed that the decision support system (DSS) for Delhi’s air quality management estimated transport as the biggest contributor to air pollution in the capital at 16.5 per cent.

The city and peripheral industries contributed 8.6 per cent, residential sources up to 4.1 per cent, construction 2.2 per cent and waste burning 1.4 per cent.

On the weather front, the maximum temperature on Friday settled at 26.6 degrees Celsius, 3.6 notches above normal, while the minimum was 8 degrees Celsius, 0.6 notch below normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The relative humidity was 82 per cent in the evening and 100 per cent in the morning.