Delhi AQI hits 487 in ‘one of the worst pollution episodes seen in November in recent years’; AQI 500 in some areas

Among the 38 functional aerial prime monitoring stations successful Delhi, the astir contamination was reported successful Dwarka and Najafgarh with an AQI of 500 arsenic of 11 americium connected Monday. All the stations reported aerial prime successful the ‘severe’ category, breaching the 400 mark, and it was inching adjacent to 500.

Sunil Dahiya, laminitis and pb biology expert astatine Envirocatalysts said, “The contamination levels observed successful the past 1 week are the highest implicit the past 5 years. The emergence successful the contamination levels tin beryllium attributed to insignificant systematic actions connected perennial contamination sources coupled with expanding stubble burning publication successful the past week and deteriorating meteorology. The PM2.5 attraction observed yesterday is 429 micrograms per cubic metre which is the highest observed attraction implicit the past week, compared to the aforesaid play since 2020.”

The mean PM2.5 levels from November 11 to 17 were 297 micrograms per cubic metre successful 2020 and 201, 258, 151, 225 and 304, respectively till 2024.

The CPCB information shared by Envirocatalysts showed that the 24-hour mean PM2.5 level implicit Delhi connected Sunday (November 17) astatine 429 micrograms per cubic metre was the highest since 2021 for October to November. This was the highest for this play compared to erstwhile years, since November 10, 2022, erstwhile the mean PM2.5 level was reported astatine 452 micrograms per cubic metre.

According to an aerial prime forecast by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the aerial prime is apt to beryllium successful the ‘Severe’ oregon ‘Very poor’ class for the adjacent six days.

GRAP 4 measures

Under Stage 4 of GRAP, the authorities has banned each operation and demolition activities with exceptions made for circumstantial projects related to defence, Metro, railways, airports, and healthcare facilities. The eight-point enactment program besides includes a prohibition connected the introduction of diesel-powered mean and dense vehicles (BS-IV and below) successful Delhi, but those transporting indispensable goods oregon providing exigency services. Chief Minister Atishi has besides announced that each schools volition clasp online classes for students, barring those successful classes 10 and 12, until further orders.

IMD issues yellowish alert

Meteorological conditions on with emissions – home and determination – origin a spike successful contamination levels astir this clip of the year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellowish alert, forecasting mean oregon shallow fog oregon smog conditions successful the evening to nighttime.

Similarly, determination is simply a yellowish alert connected Tuesday arsenic good with the Met Office forecasting dense fog conditions successful the greeting with shallow oregon mean fog for the aboriginal portion of the day. From November 20 to November 24, it expects fog conditions to improve.

The upwind bulletin by the IMD, arsenic of 9.15 americium connected Monday, said dense fog was reported successful Palam and the visibility was lowest astatine 100 metres till 8 am. Similarly, Safdarjung airdrome recorded the lowest visibility astatine 150 metres up to 3 am. The atmospheric conditions successful the superior are not favourable for the dispersal of pollutants.

With a flimsy autumn successful temperatures implicit Delhi, the maximum and minimum temperatures are successful the scope of 28 to 30 degrees Celsius and 12 to 17 degrees Celsius, respectively. Westerlies with debased upwind speeds of 6 to 8 kmph prevailed with smog conditions implicit Delhi, said the IMD.