Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates as AQI Climbs Over 350

New Delhi- A layer of smog blanketed parts of Delhi on Sunday morning, as the city’s air quality continued to worsen, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the 'very poor' category. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI measured 364 at 7 AM, raising health concerns for residents.

Several areas reported AQI readings above 350, signaling potential health risks. New Moti Bagh recorded an AQI of 352, RK Puram reached 380, Vivek Vihar reported 388, Dwarka Sector 8 stood at 385, and Lodhi Road showed 330—all classified as 'very poor.' Nehru Nagar and Anand Vihar reported 'severe' levels, with AQI scores of 431 and 427, respectively. Burari’s AQI was also in the 'very poor' range at 385.

The AQI categories are defined as 'poor' (200-300), 'very poor' (301-400), 'severe' (401-450), and 'severe plus' (450 and above). One resident, Aditya, voiced his concerns: "Breathing has become very challenging, and it’s unsafe to go out for exercise. Pollution is irritating our eyes and affecting our health."

In response to the elevated pollution levels, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the deployment of 200 mobile anti-smog guns, which will operate in three shifts to spray water in assembly constituencies to curb dust pollution. Rai stressed the government’s commitment to tackling pollution from dust, vehicles, and biomass burning, stating that teams are continuously working to address these sources.

Delhi's AQI on Saturday was recorded at 296, with localized spikes: Anand Vihar was at 380, ITO at 253 (poor), RK Puram at 346 (very poor), IGI Airport T3 at 342 (very poor), and Dwarka Sector 8 at 308 (very poor).

Meanwhile, Mumbai also faced air quality issues, with a smog layer near Marine Drive and an AQI reading of 208, categorized as 'poor.'