Delhi's air quality continued to pose a serious health risk on Friday morning. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 346 at 7 am, firmly placing it in the 'very poor' category. This data comes from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Multiple Areas Record High Pollution Levels
Numerous localities across the national capital reported alarmingly high AQI readings. All of them exceeded the 300 mark, indicating very poor air conditions.
Specific AQI Readings at 7 AM
- Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 354.
- Ashok Vihar stood at 367.
- ITO reported 362.
- RK Puram registered 374.
- Patparganj reached 372.
- Wazirpur also hit 374.
- Chandni Chowk measured 370.
- Dwarka Sector 8 reported 369.
These figures were confirmed by CPCB data and reported by news agency ANI.
Understanding the AQI Scale
The Air Quality Index classifies readings into several categories. This helps the public understand the severity of pollution levels.
- 0 to 50 is considered 'good'.
- 51 to 100 is 'satisfactory'.
- 101 to 200 falls under 'moderate'.
- 201 to 300 is labeled 'poor'.
- 301 to 400, like Delhi's current reading, is 'very poor'.
- 401 to 500 reaches the 'severe' category.
Cold Wave Grips the Capital
Adding to the discomfort, Delhi is experiencing a significant cold wave. Temperatures dropped to around 5.4 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This combination of cold and poor air quality creates challenging conditions for residents.
Dense Fog Disrupts Northern and Eastern India
Severe fog conditions compounded the problems across northern and eastern regions of the country. Official data from 5.30 am revealed drastically reduced visibility at several airports.
Airports with Zero Visibility
Very dense fog completely obscured vision at multiple airports. The following locations reported zero metres of visibility:
- Amritsar
- Adampur
- Chandigarh
- Pathankot
- Hindon
- Saharanpur
Widespread Visibility Issues
Extremely poor visibility affected large areas. Punjab, Chandigarh, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh all reported serious fog. This situation raises major concerns about delays and disruptions for both air and surface transport.
In Delhi itself, Palam airport recorded visibility of 800 metres. Safdarjung reported 700 metres amid shallow fog conditions.
Moderate Fog at Other Locations
Several other cities experienced moderate fog. Visibility readings varied across different regions:
- Varanasi and Jammu reported 200 metres.
- Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh recorded 350 metres.
- Kanpur and Gorakhpur saw better conditions with visibility around 400 metres.
Consistent Pollution Problem
Delhi's air quality has shown little improvement. Just a day earlier, at 8 am on Thursday, the overall AQI was recorded at 352. This also placed it in the 'very poor' category, according to CPCB data. The persistent pollution highlights an ongoing environmental challenge for the city.
