New Delhi
As a thick blanket of haze and dust enveloped Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), the air quality nosedived to the “severe” level. The pollution masks are back and people have been advised to stay at home as the dusty conditions are likely to continue for the next few days. For Delhi, which is reeling under scorching heat, it’s a double whammy as the dust in the air isn’t allowing the heat to escape.
Among several measures to improve the air quality, all construction activities have been stopped, fire officials will sprinkle water and machines will sweep streets.
“There will be strong dust raising winds throughout the day. This will continue on Friday as well,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
The breathlessness and the familiar burning of eyes and irritation in the throat have returned, and so were the attacks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and co., who have been on a sit-in protest at Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal’s home for the last four days.
“Delhi is facing severe #pollution and dust particles are 18 times higher across the city and State and Central Govt representatives are sitting on “Dharna” in AC room. Where should the common man go?” asked a Twitter user.
The toxic levels have prompted Mr Kejriwal to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for urgent intervention to stop the “strike” by IAS officers, so the issue could be addressed. He added that no meeting on pollution control could be held over the last three months due to their ongoing “strike”.
According to MeT department, the wind speed of 25-35 kilometres per hour has been predicted for the day. The humidity level was 49 per cent this morning and the maximum temperature is expected to be around 41 degrees Celsius.
The PM10 level, presence of particles with diameter less than 10mm, was beyond severe at 796 in Delhi-NCR and 830 in Delhi particularly, leading to hazy conditions.
According to the CPCB, the air quality index (AQI) — a measurement of the concentration of toxic particulate matter in the air — at several places in Delhi remained beyond the 500-mark, with east Delhi’s Anand Vihar area recording a PM10 level of 929 and PM2.5 level of 301 this morning.
An AQI between 0-50 is considered “Good”, 51-100 “Satisfactory”, 101-200 “Moderate”, 201-300 “Poor”, 301-400 “Very Poor”, and 401-500 “Severe”.
