Delhi's Air Quality Plummets to Severe Category
Delhi's air quality took a dangerous turn on Sunday, plunging into the severe category. The city recorded an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 444, marking a significant deterioration from Saturday's reading of 400, which was already in the very poor range.
Neighboring Cities Also Suffer
Pollution woes extended beyond Delhi's borders. Noida witnessed its average AQI jump from 388 to 430 on Sunday. Gurgaon fared slightly better with an AQI of 378, though this still represented an increase from the previous day's 360.
Strict Anti-Pollution Measures Activated
This severe air quality crisis prompted immediate action from authorities. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. These represent the strictest anti-pollution measures available.
The Stage IV restrictions include several significant curbs:
- Hybrid work modes for schools and offices
- Restrictions on construction activities
- Ban on entry of polluting vehicles into the city
Weather Conditions Worsen the Situation
Sunday morning brought dense fog to most parts of Delhi, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert. The weather office predicts similar conditions for Monday morning, with isolated dense fog expected across the city.
Temperature readings showed unusual patterns. The maximum temperature settled at 22.7 degrees Celsius, approximately 3 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature dropped to 5.3 degrees Celsius, 2.3 notches below normal.
Sources of Pollution Identified
Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune's Decision Support System revealed clear contributors to Delhi's pollution crisis. Transport emissions emerged as the top source, accounting for 10.6% of Delhi's PM2.5 load. The industrial sector followed closely at 7.7%.
External contributions from neighboring regions added to the problem. Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh emerged as the highest external contributor at 15.4%, with Ghaziabad following at 12.2%.
Multiple Factors Behind Deterioration
Several factors combined to create this severe air quality situation:
- Highly unfavorable weather conditions
- Poor meteorological patterns
- Lack of effective pollutant dispersal
These elements created a perfect storm for pollution accumulation over the capital region.
Outlook Shows Gradual Improvement
There is some hope on the horizon. Air quality is expected to improve slightly from Monday, though it will likely remain in the very poor category until Wednesday. Forecasts for the rest of the week suggest air quality will fluctuate between very poor and poor categories.
Monday's weather prediction includes maximum temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures near 8 degrees Celsius. While conditions remain challenging, the slight improvement offers some relief from the severe pollution levels experienced on Sunday.
