Delhi Pollution Nears Emergency Level
According to the CPCB, the 24-hour average concentration of lung-damaging particles known as PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR crossed the 300 micrograms per cubic meter threshold at midnight on Friday.
Delhi's air quality plunged to near emergency levels, and pollution controlling authorities have asked people in the national capital to limit outdoor activities and urged a 30% cut in-vehicle use.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board's 4 pm bulletin on Friday, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was 471, reaching the worst this season so far.
The latest record number of farm fires are among the reasons that pushed Delhi's pollution levels on Friday.
Spike in pollution levels
The Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) reported that meteorological conditions would be highly unfavorable for dispersion of pollutants till November 18 and all concerned parties must be fully ready to implement measures under the "emergency" category.
After the warning, parents kept their children at home due to the threats of respiratory dangers.
“This spike in pollution is an amalgamation of many things. Delhi already saw peak pollution levels after Diwali and the high stubble count in Punjab and Haryana. Because of slow winds, the pollution load is not being eased, and more pollution is being added. All this is being recirculated in the air,” said VK Soni, head of IMD’s environment and research department.
Based on an analysis of data from heat-sensing satellites done by the Hindustan Times, there have been 24,694 incidents of fire recorded since November 8.
What a beautiful sight from Delhi’s Yamuna river. Thanks to Kejriwal ji from importing snow directly from Rohtang Pass for the occasion of Chhatt Pooja. God bless him and every other environmentalist who fought day and night to save delhi from Air pollution caused by crackers. pic.twitter.com/lN4WFa2hjj
— Madhur Singh (@ThePlacardGuy) November 8, 2021
Respiratory dangers, threats
This number is the highest for the second week of November since 2012, the earliest year for which data was available.
The CPCB said the 24-hour average concentration of lung-damaging fine particles known as PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR crossed the 300 mark around midnight and stood at 381 micrograms per cubic meter at 4 pm on Friday, over six times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter.
The PM10 level was recorded at 577 micrograms per cubic meter, over five times the safe limit of 100 micrograms per cubic meter.
Emergency measures to reduce pollution levels
Grap considered that the air quality would be in the "emergency" category if the PM2.5 and PM10 levels continue to be above 300 micrograms per cubic meter and 500 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively for 48 hours or more.
The emergency-level curbs include security measures that could ban construction work and the entry of heavy vehicles, along with an odd-even car limit.
A layer of smog was seen lingering over Delhi-NCR thickened on Friday, creating an orange tint to the sun and lowering visibility to 200 meters at several places in the region.