Journalism of Courage
For the first time this season, Delhi’s air quality plummeted to hit the ‘severe’ category on Thursday. The city's AQI skyrocketed from 351 at 10 am on Thursday to 471 at 9 am Friday. (Express photo)
A cocktail of factors — low wind speed and intrusion of smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring states — add to the impact of highly unfavourable meteorological conditions. Pollutants suspended in the air gives the city a sepia tint with poor visibility. (PTI Photo)
With the AQI breaching the 400-mark on Thursday, entering the “severe” category, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said all primary schools will remain closed for the next two days (Friday and Saturday).
While people chose to wear masks to protect themselves from the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III stage).
Under this stage, all non-essential construction and demolition projects are banned in the NCR region except those related to the Railways, Metro, airports, healthcare facilities, defence and national security, sanitation and water supply, highways, flyovers, pipelines and roads. (Express photo)
According to a forecast issued by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, wind speed is likely to be around 4 to 10 kmph on Friday with shallow fog in the morning, while it is likely to be around 6 to 8 kmph on Saturday and Sunday. Other parts of the NCR also recorded AQI in the ‘severe’ category — at 5 pm, the AQI in Greater Noida was 414, while it was 415 in Jind. (Express photo)
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, AQI that is “severe” (401 to 500) can affect “healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases”. (Express photo)
