Delhi air quality reaches hazardous levels, surpasses Lahore as most polluted city
Delhi air quality worsens to hazardous levels, overtaking Lahore as the world's most polluted city
Delhi air quality worsens to hazardous, with dense smog reducing visibility and health concerns rising
Delhi residents woke up to thick smog and very poor visibility on Wednesday as air quality worsened to hazardous levels. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) in the very poor range, while Swiss organization IQAir ranked Delhi as the world’s most polluted city, surpassing Lahore, Pakistan. The smog affected visibility across the National Capital Region (NCR), with visibility down to just 100 meters in some areas early in the morning.
The AQI in areas like Anand Vihar recorded levels of 413, up from 334 on Tuesday afternoon. Some areas, including Aya Nagar and Ashok Vihar, reached AQI readings of 428 and 386, respectively. Meanwhile, IQAir data showed even more alarming readings, with Anand Vihar reaching an AQI of 991, Jahangirpuri at 815, and Mundka at 515. These high readings are primarily due to PM2.5 pollutants, tiny particles that pose significant respiratory health risks.
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With visibility impaired, low visibility procedures were implemented at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), according to Delhi International Airport Limited. Although flights continued as scheduled, flights not equipped with CAT III navigation systems, which allow landings in low-visibility conditions, faced possible delays.
Delhi’s air quality has been in the very poor category for 15 consecutive days since October 30. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also reported a slight drop in temperature from 17.9°C on Tuesday to 17°C on Wednesday morning, which could dip further as smog blocks sunlight.
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Vehicular emissions contribute significantly to Delhi’s pollution, with about 10% expected to come from traffic over the next two days. Farm fires in nearby regions also remain a key pollution source, adding to the city’s environmental challenges.
Efforts to combat pollution are underway in both India and Pakistan, with neighboring Punjab province in Pakistan implementing school closures and restricting outdoor activities to protect public health.
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