Delhi's AQI soars to 418, marking worst air quality of the season

Delhi's AQI soars to 418, marking worst air quality of the season

Delhi recorded the worst air quality in the country on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a "severe" level of 418 for the first time this season.

Bihar's Hajipur followed closely with an AQI of 417, ranking second. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that 30 out of Delhi's 36 monitoring stations reported "severe" air quality.

In comparison, the capital's 24-hour average AQI was 334 on Tuesday. AQI values are categorized as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), 401-450 (severe), and above 450 (severe plus). The last time Delhi’s AQI hit "severe" was in January, with readings of 447 on January 14 and 409 on January 24 and 26.

The CPCB noted that "severe" air quality can harm healthy individuals and severely affect those with pre-existing health conditions.

The pollution in Delhi had been categorized as "very poor" since October 30. The primary source of pollution was vehicular emissions, contributing roughly 13.3% to the city's poor air quality.

Other key pollutants included PM2.5 and PM10, fine particulate matters that pose serious health risks, including respiratory issues and increased heart disease risk from long-term exposure.