The overall air quality in Delhi and neighbouring cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the second consecutive day on Monday morning, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) data. As of 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 322, indicating a serious health concern for residents.

In most parts of the NCR including Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, the air quality was recorded as ‘very poor’ on Monday morning. However, there was relatively better air quality in areas of Gurugram.

#WATCH | Overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stands at 322, in the 'Very Poor' category as per SAFAR-India.

(Visuals from areas around India Gate, Kartavya Path and Lodhi Road) pic.twitter.com/FXBnJxLdlL— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2023

At 6 a.m., the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data indicated alarming figures with Ashok Vihar (352), Indira Gandhi Airport T3 (331), ITO (302), and Delhi University North Campus (382) recording severely high AQI levels.

#WATCH | Overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stands at 322, in the 'Very Poor' category as per SAFAR-India.

(Visuals from Dhaula Kuan and Arjun Path) pic.twitter.com/UWTlO2xbZ0— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2023

Initiatives like ‘Red Light on, Gaadi off’ are underway to tackle vehicular emissions, a significant contributor to rising PM2.5 levels. Despite these efforts, the haze is expected to persist, with a ‘very poor’ air quality forecast for the region from October 29 to 31, 2023. Biomass burning emissions also play a role in deteriorating the air quality, necessitating immediate attention to mitigate the situation.

In contrast, Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, experienced a relatively better condition with an overall air quality recorded in the ‘moderate’ category. According to SAFAR data, the city’s AQI stood at 128. Specific areas in Mumbai, such as Bandra Kurla Complex (144) and Borivali East (139), reported moderate AQI levels. Notably, Andheri East recorded an AQI of 78, falling within the ‘satisfactory’ category.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Overall air quality in Mumbai in the 'Moderate' category with the AQI at 128 as per SAFAR-India.

(Visuals from CSMT & Marine Drive) pic.twitter.com/kZhh4QIdDY— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2023

It is crucial to note that on the AQI scale, values from zero to 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

Based on government data, when the AQI falls into the ‘very poor’ category, it can lead to respiratory issues, especially for those exposed for extended periods. This effect is more severe for individuals with pre-existing lung and heart conditions.

An AQI in the ‘moderate’ category can cause breathing discomfort for individuals with lung diseases like asthma and discomfort for those with heart conditions, as well as for children and older adults.

(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)

First Published:Oct 30, 2023 11:00 AM IST