LAGATAR24 DESK
New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality plunged to dangerous levels on Monday, with Anand Vihar recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 433 in the ‘severe’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Wazirpur followed closely with an AQI of 414, indicating alarming pollution levels across the city. Delhi’s overall AQI hovered in the ‘very poor’ range at 320 early in the day, inching toward ‘severe’ status.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that mist or smog conditions will persist until Wednesday, with the air quality expected to stay within the very poor range. This concerning smog spike comes after the previous high AQI of 392 recorded in January, with the most recent peak at 364 on October 23.
AQI Categories and Health Impact
For reference, AQI levels are categorized as follows:
- 0-50: Good
- 51-100: Satisfactory
- 101-200: Moderate
- 201-300: Poor
- 301-400: Very Poor
- 401-450: Severe
- Above 450: Severe Plus
The IMD’s forecast shows shallow fog in the morning, with temperatures reaching a high of 34°C and a low of 17°C.