Delhi's air quality deteriorates to 'severe' category, health risks likely
Delhi's air quality on Saturday deteriorated to 'severe' category, which is likely to pose severe health risks amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 432 while it stood at 427 and 409 in Mundka and Wazirpur, respectively.
On Friday, the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 374 in the morning and 366 by evening as compared to 302 on the previous day.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
Ten monitoring stations in Delhi entered the 'severe' zone, according to the AQI monitoring mobile application SAMEER, developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
These include Alipur with AQI of 447, Shadipur with 441, Mundka with AQI of 419, Wazirpur with 432, Anand Vihar with 405, Bawana with 413, Vivek Vihar with 422, Rohini- 401, Jahangirpuri with AQI of 418 and Patparganj with 405.
According to SAFAR, extremely calm surface wind conditions prevail over the Delhi region and are forecast to continue for two days.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has kick-started its "Red Light On, Gaadi Off" anti-pollution campaign for which it has deployed 2,500 environment marshals at 100 traffic signals across the city to generate awareness and curb vehicular pollution. The drive will be carried out in all 70 Assembly constituencies of the national capital from October 26 to November 15 from 8 am to 8 pm.
