Delhi engulfed by smog as AQI plummets to ‘very poor’

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI at 9 am stood at a worrying 307. Anand Vihar, a pollution hotspot in Delhi, recorded the highest AQI of 361, dipping in the 'very poor' category.

The sinking air quality, accompanied with the chilly morning, created a hazardous environment for residents delhi

Delhi News Live Updates: Delhi's is the second most polluted city after Jind in Haryana. (File)

The national capital woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Monday, as the air quality index (AQI) deteriorated to the ‘very poor’ category for the first time this season. The sinking air quality, accompanied with the chilly morning, created a hazardous environment for residents.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI at 9 am stood at a worrying 307. Anand Vihar, a pollution hotspot in Delhi, recorded the highest AQI of 361, thus falling in the ‘very poor’ category.

There are six categories of AQI, namely ‘good’ (0-50), ‘satisfactory’ (50-100), ‘moderately polluted’ (100-200), ‘poor’ (200-300), ‘very poor’ (300-400), and ‘severe’ (400-500).

The citizens are advised to minimise outdoor activities and avoid exposure to the polluted air. Health experts warned of potential respiratory issues, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

Despite the deteriorating air quality, the weather remained pleasant. The minimum temperature was recorded at 20.4 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to reach 35.8 degrees Celsius.

What’s happening in the rest of the country?

The AQI levels in cities including Bengaluru (49), Mumbai (44) and Pune (37) were in the ‘good’ category as of 10 am, as per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) forecast.

Hyderabad and Ahmedabad had satisfactory air quality, with AQIs of 72 and 62, respectively.

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