New Delhi – The national capital’s environmental crisis deepened on Tuesday evening as Delhi air quality severe levels returned with alarming intensity. Pollution levels climbed rapidly across the city, with 19 out of 39 monitoring locations crossing into the severe category, marking conditions known to cause serious health impacts for residents.
Sharp Deterioration in Air Quality Index
By 9 pm on Tuesday, Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index of 390, representing a sharp jump from 304 on Monday and 279 on Sunday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. This rapid deterioration highlights how quickly Delhi air quality severe conditions can develop, leaving residents vulnerable to hazardous atmospheric conditions.
The transition from relatively better air quality over the weekend to hazardous levels within 48 hours demonstrates the volatile nature of Delhi’s pollution crisis and the multiple factors contributing to the city’s environmental emergency.
19 Monitoring Stations Record Severe Pollution
Out of 39 monitoring locations across the national capital, 19 stations registered AQI levels above 400, the threshold for severe air quality classification. The widespread nature of Delhi air quality severe readings indicates that the pollution crisis affects virtually every corner of the city, with no neighborhoods escaping the toxic atmospheric conditions.
Areas recording severe pollution included Burari, Anand Vihar, Mundka, Bawana, Vivek Vihar, Rohini, Sonia Vihar, Ashok Vihar, and Punjabi Bagh, among others. These neighborhoods represent diverse geographic locations across Delhi, demonstrating that Delhi air quality severe conditions span both central and peripheral areas of the capital.
Most Affected Areas and AQI Readings
Several monitoring stations recorded particularly alarming readings that underscore the intensity of the crisis. Chandni Chowk topped the list with an AQI of 471, followed by Nehru Nagar at 446, Bawana at 438, Vivek Vihar at 437, and Wazirpur at 433, according to CPCB’s Sameer app data recorded at 8 pm on Tuesday.
Other stations recording Delhi air quality severe levels included Okhla Phase 2 (431), RK Puram (426), Anand Vihar (421), Rohini (420), Ashok Vihar (418), Mundka (418), Jahangirpuri (408), Siri Fort (408), Sonia Vihar (411), Punjabi Bagh (412), Burari Crossing (407), DTU (406), Patparganj (404), and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (416).
Understanding Air Quality Classifications
According to CPCB standards, air quality is classified across six categories based on AQI readings. An AQI of 0-50 is classified as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, 101-200 as moderate, 201-300 as poor, 301-400 as very poor, and 401-500 as severe.
The Delhi air quality severe classification indicates that pollution levels have reached the highest category on the scale, posing significant health risks to all residents, particularly vulnerable groups including children, elderly citizens, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
No Relief Expected in Coming Days
Residents hoping for improvement will be disappointed by the forecast from the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi. The system has warned that pollution levels are unlikely to improve anytime soon, with Delhi air quality severe and very poor conditions expected to persist.
According to the forecast, the city’s AQI is expected to remain in the very poor category until at least December 5. More concerning is the projection that pollution levels are likely to stay in the same range for the following six days as well, indicating no immediate improvement in overall air quality conditions.
This extended period of Delhi air quality severe and very poor readings means residents will face prolonged exposure to hazardous atmospheric conditions, increasing health risks across the population.
Transport Emerges as Primary Pollution Source
Analysis of pollution sources reveals that transport emissions remained the largest local contributor on Tuesday, accounting for 18.4 percent of Delhi’s overall pollution. This makes vehicular emissions the single biggest factor contributing to Delhi air quality severe conditions.
Following transport, emissions from peripheral industries contributed 9.2 percent to the capital’s pollution burden. The data underscores the need for comprehensive measures addressing both vehicular emissions and industrial activity to combat the environmental crisis effectively.
Regional Contribution to Pollution
Delhi air quality severe conditions are not solely the result of local emissions. Neighboring cities contribute significantly to the capital’s pollution burden through atmospheric transport of pollutants. Noida accounted for 8.2 percent of Delhi’s pollution, while Baghpat contributed 6.2 percent, Ghaziabad 4.6 percent, Panipat 3.3 percent, and Gurugram 2.9 percent.
This regional dimension of Delhi air quality severe conditions highlights the need for coordinated action across the National Capital Region to address the pollution crisis effectively.
Wednesday’s Forecast
Looking ahead to Wednesday, transport emissions are expected to contribute 15.6 percent to overall pollution levels. While this represents a slight decrease from Tuesday’s 18.4 percent, it remains a substantial contributor to Delhi air quality severe and very poor conditions.
With no significant improvement forecast for the coming week and multiple pollution sources continuing to impact the capital, residents must prepare for an extended period of hazardous air quality requiring protective measures and activity modifications to minimize health impacts.
