As the national Capital ushered in the New Year amid dense fog, the air quality deteriorated severely on the first day of 2018, with the air quality index (AQI) shooting up to 400 units and bordering on 'severe' level of air pollution.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI of up to 400 units is classified as 'very poor', while above 400, it is categorised as 'severe'. The permissible standard of a healthy AQI is 60 units, while the current figure is almost six times that limit.
The AQI on Sunday was recorded at 398 units.
Even with zero visibility, however, people came out in large numbers to welcome 2018 on a rather cold day. The maximum temperature recorded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) was 13 degrees Celsisus, while fog and haze enveloped the city throughout the day. The mercury dropped to 5.7 degrees Celsius in early morning.
According to the CPCB officials, what added to the dipping of air quality was the bursting of firecrackers in many parts of the city.
PM 2.5 — most prominent pollutant in Delhi-NCR — had reached past 400 at many pollution monitoring stations in the city. NCR towns, including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad, reeled under 'severe' levels of pollution nearing the 'emergency mark' (500 units) at 483, 482, and 411, respectively.
The CPCB laboratory also recorded a downward graph of air quality.
"The high level of moisture manifested itself in the form of fog, which trapped pollutants in the air. The air quality could get better, if wind speed picks up," a senior official said.
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) — a Supreme Court mandated body — stated that if pollution levels enter the 'severe plus (500+)' category in the next 48 hours, it will issue emergency directions.
'Very poor' AQI comes with the warning that people may develop respiratory illness and prolonged exposure to air may affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
AQI LEVELS
Delhi: 400 (very poor)
Ghaziabad: 482 (severe)
Noida: 483 (severe)
Gurugram: 378 (very poor)
Faridabad: 411 (very poor)
