Delhi AQI reaches 367 as smog covers the city
Several areas in the capital recorded severe air quality levels on Thursday morning, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.
A thick blanket of smog covered Delhi on Thursday morning, with the city's average Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 367 at 8 am, according to Business Standard reporting on Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
PM2.5 and PM10 were the major pollutants contributing to the very poor air quality. Several parts of the capital recorded AQI levels in the severe category, including Jahangirpuri, which recorded the highest AQI of 459.
Other areas in the severe category included IIT Delhi at 447, Punjabi Bagh at 446, Alipur at 437, Vivek Vihar at 434, and both Nauroji Nagar Ring Road and RK Puram at 416. The area around the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Aiims) also recorded an AQI of 402.
The AQI around India Gate was 399, while Akshardham and Anand Vihar recorded 293 and 296 respectively, both falling in the poor category.
Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) remains in force across Delhi-NCR. Under these restrictions, authorities must increase mechanical sweeping of roads and perform daily water sprinkling to control dust.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had invoked Stage-II restrictions on Monday after the AQI reached 325. The CAQM also issued show-cause notices to officials in five Punjab districts on Wednesday regarding paddy stubble burning.