MC Pollution Dashboard: Delhi chokes again, AQI crosses 400 after 24 days

AQI crosses 400 again

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to “severe” with the AQI crossing 400 for the first time in almost a month on December 18, data released by the Central Pollution Control Board shows, as the national capital choked on a toxic mix of smoke and fog.

Delhi and neighbouring Ghaziabad were the two of the 257 cities that reported air quality data to have an air quality index (AQI) reading of above 400. Delhi's AQI was 433, the worst in 24 days and Ghaziabad's was 403.

Fifteen cities had an AQI of above 300 and 51 had AQI reading in the poor category.

On December 18, over a quarter of Indian cities experienced poor or worse air quality and the number of cities with clean air declined to 12 from 23 in the previous week.

Mizoram’s capital, Aizwal, had the best air quality in the country, with an AQI of 17.

All metros, barring Chennai, had AQI of above 100, with Kolkata crossing the 200 mark. Mumbai had an AQI of 188 followed by Bengaluru at 123 and Hyderabad at 112.

Ahmedabad had an AQI of 146, while Gandhinagar, which hosts the GIFT city, had AQI of 107.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus.

Among international cities, New York’s AQI of 31 and Beijing’s reading of 29 was better than 255 Indian cities. London’s AQI of 43 was better than that of 249 Indian cities.