Delhi-NCR for the third consecutive day is grappling with hazardous levels of air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) persistently in the 'severe' category, reaching an alarming 504.
The dire situation has caused serious health concerns among residents, who are struggling to breathe in the polluted air.
Delhi's ITO area was enveloped in a thick layer of haze, as captured by drone camera footage, while the Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3) recorded an even higher AQI of 571.
In Dhirpur, Delhi, the AQI reached 542, further exacerbating the crisis. The pollution has prompted residents to don masks and voice their distress over the deteriorating air quality.
Neighbouring regions, including Noida, were not spared from this grim scenario, as their AQI plummeted to 'severe' levels, with an AQI of 576.
In Noida Sector-116 and Sector 62, the AQI remained in the range of 426 to 428, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. The situation was no better in Gurugram, which recorded an AQI of 512, keeping the air quality firmly within the 'severe' category.
The pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR has been intensifying, with the city having the highest levels of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 in the country during the month of October. This alarming trend has persisted since 2021, as per media reports.
A significant contributor to this pollution surge is the burning of paddy stubbles in neighbouring states. The favourable wind direction has allowed pollutants from these burning events to be transported into the Delhi-NCR region.
Moreover, the relatively calm conditions within Delhi itself have led to the accumulation of these toxins. Experts have noted that the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 was particularly high during this season due to these favourable weather conditions.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken note of the severity of the situation and has sought responses from the Chief Secretaries of the affected states. NGT has directed them to take immediate remedial actions to address the air pollution crisis and to submit an action taken report to the Tribunal. NGT stressed the urgency of these measures to ensure better air quality for the residents of these cities.
Satellite data revealed a significant number of farm fires, with 1,551 detected in Punjab, 28 in Haryana, and 36 in Uttar Pradesh on a single day. These fires contributed to the worsening air quality in the region.
In addition, meteorological conditions played a crucial role in exacerbating the problem. Calm wind conditions and low local wind speed and temperature within Delhi led to the accumulation of pollutants in the region.
The situation is further aggravated by a forecast that suggests air quality is expected to improve marginally but will likely remain in the 'severe' category until November 6. Subsequently, it is predicted to remain in the 'severe' to 'very poor' ranges for the following six days, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, a forecasting body under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Thus, Delhi-NCR continues to grapple with 'severe' air pollution, largely attributed to the burning of paddy stubbles in neighbouring states and unfavourable meteorological conditions. The situation has raised alarm among residents, prompting government authorities to take immediate action to mitigate the crisis. However, the forecast indicates that the air quality is unlikely to improve significantly in the near future, prolonging the health risks faced by the region's inhabitants.
