Thick Smog Covers Delhi as Air Quality Touches the “Severe” Category

Capital Chokes with Rising Pollution Levels

A hazardous morning was witnessed by the capital, Delhi, with a layer of smog encircling the entire city, causing air quality levels to spike alarmingly. As per air quality reports, the AQI value went into the severe zone.

All air quality monitoring stations recorded critically polluted environments, with fine particulate matter contributing the most. Some of the residential areas were still shrouded in haze that made it difficult for people to breathe.

This was accompanied by poor air quality, which reduced visibility in the city, including at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where passengers were advised to remain vigilant about a possible delay. Despite flight activities, the airport management closely observed the situation as visibility declined considerably in the early morning hours.

Against the backdrop of the deteriorating situation, stricter measures were adopted through the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). These include restrictions related to construction work, cutting down polluting transport, and the need to work from home. This is in order to restrict the amount of emission that could still occur during the peak emission season.

” It was further stated: “The official announcement by various state This sudden air pollution increase, according to experts, was attributed to the wrong prevailing weather conditions that inhibited air dispersion, such as still winds and high moisture. During winter, the conditions often trap hazardous particles nearby, contributing to poor air quality in the National Capital Region.

Health workers have advised citizens to reduce their outdoor activities, especially among children, the elderly, or people with lung or heart conditions. There is no end in sight for the weather conditions for Delhi, so until corrective actions are taken, air pollution is likely to continue plaguing the region.