AQI Remains ‘Severe Plus’ As Smog Reduces Visibility; Citizens Call For Urgent Action News24 –

Delhi continued to choke with ‘severe plus’ air quality for the second consecutive day. The smog engulfed the city, reducing visibility and worsening the pollution level. The capital’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the ‘severe’ category for days, with PM2.5 concentrations surging past 400 mg/m3 which is far beyond the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit of 15 mg/m3 for 24-hour exposure.

Such alarming levels of Air Quality Index (AQI), is considered hazardous to health, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions.

Train Services Affected Due To Smog

Train services were also affected due to the haze covering the area. 13 trains are running late and 9 trains put back, said the Railways on Wednesday.

#WATCH | Trains’ movement continues amid smog in Delhi. Visuals from New Delhi Railway Station.

13 trains running late and 9 trains put back, says Railways. pic.twitter.com/zFrFhaWxfF

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024

AQI In Delhi

As of 7:38 am, AQI in Delhi is recorded at 423 as of CPCB data. AQI recorded at other places: Anand Vihar (453), Bawana (457), Jahangirpuri (460), Narela (452), R K Puram (423), Punjabi Bagh (443), Patparganj (436), Okhla Phase-2 (411), Rohini (458), Shadipur (421), Wazirpur (462).

#WATCH | Delhi: Kartavya Path and surrounding areas covered in a thin layer of smog amid deteriorating air quality. People seen working out at Kartavya Path. pic.twitter.com/WNDyc7rlXG

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024

Several areas in Delhi crossed 500 AQI mark on Tuesday. Bawana (500), CRRI Mathura Road (500), Narela (500) recorded ‘severe plus’ AQI.

Universities Go Online, SC Directs Issuance of Advisory

Amid the deteriorating air quality, University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) decided to conduct classes online, citing severe pollution and hazardous AQI levels in Delhi and the NCR.

The Supreme Court on Monday had directed that an advisory for taking preventive health measures should be issued.

“Inviting reference to Order dated November 17, 2024, of Director (Technical), Member Convenor of Sub-Committee on GRAP, Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas notifying implementation of Actions under stage-IV (Severe Air Quality) of revised Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi-NCR, it has been directed that an advisory be issued for taking preventive health measures including wearing of mask,” the apex court stated in the notice.

Experts On Delhi Pollution

Meanwhile, health experts have called these measures as temporary fixes for a problem that demands deeper, more systemic solutions. Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends, expressed the urgency of tackling air pollution with a multifaceted approach.

“Delhi’s air quality index is close to 450 and, on average, has touched 1000 mg/m3 in some areas. The fact that there is no single source of pollution, but a combination of black carbon, ozone, and fumes from burning fossil fuels and farm fires, should push us to adopt multidisciplinary solutions. As temperatures drop in a La Nina year, poor wind circulation leaves pollutants hanging in the air. We need to be urgently responsive to the realities of climate change that the world is facing today,” Khosla said.

Notably, prolonged exposure to high levels of PM2.5 is linked to severe health outcomes including heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cognitive decline.

Gopal Rai Writes To Union Environment Minister

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav requesting to immediately convene an emergency meeting with Delhi Government, IIT Kanpur and all other central Government Departments like DGCA, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Defence etc. involved in issuing clearance to conduct cloud seeding in Delhi, as an emergency measure.

Delhi Police Conduct Vehicle Check

In addition to ensure the proper implementation of GRAP 4, Delhi Police conducted vehicle checks on Tuesday night. GRAP Stage IV enforces a ban on the operation of Delhi-registered BS-IV and older diesel-operated medium goods vehicles (MGVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), except those engaged in essential services.

Residents Call For Check On Pollution

Delhi resident Ankit Sachdeva said, “We pay taxes to the government for facilities but we have to fix this as well. Government needs to check pollution.”