Delhi-NCR wakes up to fog and drizzle, air quality hits ‘severe’ levels
New Delhi: Residents of Delhi-NCR woke up to a foggy and drizzly morning on Monday as air quality deteriorated to alarming levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged into the ‘severe’ category, raising health concerns across the region.
Weather forecast
The Meteorological Department predicts very light to light rain on Monday, with another spell likely between December 26 and 28. This could bring temporary relief, but its long-term impact on pollution levels remains uncertain.
AQI levels across key areas
At 7 AM on Monday, several areas recorded hazardous AQI readings:
Anand Vihar: 439
Ashok Vihar: 456
Bawana: 473
Rohini: 464
Other locations, including ITO (412), Burari Crossing (441), and Jahangirpuri (448), also faced severely polluted air.
Meanwhile, some areas showed slightly better, yet still unhealthy, ‘very poor’ AQI levels:
Aya Nagar: 356
IGI Airport: 351
Dwarka-Sector 8: 389
Sunday witnessed a sharp spike in pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, with the 24-hour average AQI soaring to 409, compared to Saturday’s already concerning 370 (classified as ‘very poor’).