Delhi's Air Quality Remains Critical as Smog Continues to Grip City for Second Day
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Delhi is bracing for another day of severe air pollution, with the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) remaining at 413 on Wednesday. The city has been shrouded in a thick smog for two consecutive days, with pollutants trapped close to the surface due to plummeting temperatures. According to forecasts, winds are expected to pick up slightly on Wednesday, potentially improving the AQI to the 'very poor' category. However, experts warn that the current inversion layer, characterized by a layer of warm air on top of cooler air, is locking in the pollutants and preventing them from dispersing. Private forecaster Skymet Weather's Mahesh Palawat attributes the deterioration in air quality to dipping temperatures, which led to a significant accumulation of pollutants. While winds are expected to remain consistent on Wednesday, Palawat suggests that there may be a marginal improvement in air quality, with winds reaching up to 20 km per hour during the day. The Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer app shows that 32 out of 39 active ambient air quality monitoring stations in Delhi are currently classified as 'severe.' In response to the severe air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented measures under Stage-3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap). These include restrictions on private construction, BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers in several neighboring cities, and a 'hybrid' mode of operation for schools until class five.
