Delhi air quality nears severe levels ahead of Diwali
Pollution levels in the capital have remained in the very poor category for four days, with some areas hitting severe marks.
Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor category on Thursday, with the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 369, according to Urban Acres. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noted that while this was lower than Wednesday's 377, levels have stayed elevated throughout the week.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has forecast that pollution could deteriorate further between Friday and Sunday. This period precedes Diwali, which falls on November 8 this year.
Multiple monitoring stations reported severe air quality on Thursday. Jahangirpuri recorded the highest reading at 454 at 4 pm, according to Urban Acres. Firstpost reported that at 8 am on Thursday, Jahangirpuri also reached 459, while Punjabi Bagh, Narela, Alipur, and Rohini were among several areas in the severe category.
The Decision Support System for air-quality management estimated that crop-residue burning contributed 15.601 per cent to Delhi's pollution on Thursday. On Wednesday, vehicle emissions accounted for 15.5 per cent, while crop-residue burning was at 20.2 per cent.
Dr Prashant Saxena, Chairperson at Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, stated that PM2.5 is the primary concern as these fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. He noted that spikes in PM2.5 can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of blood clots.
