Delhi Chokes: Bawana, Vivek Vihar Worst-Hit Areas as City's AQI Hits 335
Image Source: Internet
Delhi's air quality continued to deteriorate on Saturday morning, with the city's overall AQI standing at 335, classified as 'very poor'. The national capital woke up to a thick haze, a common sight during the onset of winter. This marks the third consecutive day that Delhi's AQI has remained in the 'red zone', making it the most polluted urban centre in the country. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Bawana recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 403, entering the 'severe' category. Vivek Vihar and Wazirpur followed closely, with AQI levels of 387 and 381, respectively. Other areas, including Mundka, Punjabi Bagh, Burari Crossing, and ITO, also reported high pollution levels. The CPCB defines AQI ranges as follows: 0-50 is good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe. The Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality forecast reported that PM2.5 remained the key pollutant on Friday. Stubble burning is expected to contribute significantly to Delhi's pollution, with estimates suggesting it will account for 30.9% of the city's pollution on Saturday and 31.2% on Sunday. Satellite data showed 351 farm fire incidents in Punjab, 35 in Haryana, and 200 in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The Air Quality Early Warning System predicted that the city's air quality will remain in the 'very poor' range over the next few days. Since Diwali, Delhi's AQI has swung between 'poor' and 'very poor', with several pockets breaching into the 'severe' zone.
