New Delhi – Delhi experienced one of its worst air quality episodes on Sunday as Delhi AQI levels maxed out at the dangerous 500-mark at multiple monitoring stations across the capital. The alarming situation saw 38 of the 39 active monitoring stations hovering in the ‘severe’ and ‘severe-plus’ categories, creating hazardous conditions that made even breathing outdoors a challenge for millions of residents.
Multiple Stations Record Maximum Delhi AQI Levels
The Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) 24-hour average air quality readings revealed the severity of the crisis, with Delhi AQI levels at Wazirpur, Rohini, and Ashok Vihar stations all reaching the maximum 500-mark. It is crucial to note that the CPCB’s AQI readings do not extend beyond 500, meaning the actual exposure levels, particularly hourly readings, could have been significantly higher than recorded.
This technical limitation of the measurement system suggests that residents in these areas were exposed to pollution levels that exceeded even the catastrophic 500-mark threshold, though exact numbers remain unmeasurable within the current monitoring framework.
Worst Affected Areas Experience Near-Maximum Pollution
Among the most severely impacted locations, at least 13 monitoring stations recorded Delhi AQI levels hovering above 490 for several hours throughout Sunday. Jahangirpuri and Mundka emerged as the worst affected areas, both recording Delhi AQI levels of 499, just one point below the maximum measurable limit.
Other critically polluted areas included Bawana with an AQI of 498, Delhi Technical University at 497, Vivek Vihar also at 497, Narela at 493, Anand Vihar at 492, IHBAS in Dilshad Garden at 491, and Okhla Phase-2 at 490. Even the best air quality reading of the day, recorded at Shadipur, stood at a dismal 375 in the “very poor” category, highlighting the pervasive nature of the pollution crisis.
Understanding the Air Quality Classification System
According to CPCB guidelines, Delhi AQI levels are classified into distinct categories based on their health impact. An AQI between 51 and 100 is considered “satisfactory,” while 101 to 200 falls under “moderate” air quality. The classification worsens with readings between 201 and 300 marked as “poor,” 301 to 400 as “very poor,” and anything exceeding 400 categorized as “severe.”
Sunday’s readings placed virtually the entire capital in the most dangerous category, with most areas experiencing Delhi AQI levels that far exceeded even the severe threshold, creating an unprecedented public health emergency.
Residents Report Fog-Like Conditions and Breathing Difficulties
Citizens across affected areas reported that the pollution created conditions resembling dense fog, making outdoor activities nearly impossible. Naveen Garg, a 53-year-old resident and RWA president in Rohini’s Sector 16, described the dire situation: “It has become difficult to breathe both inside and outside of the house.”
He further noted that residents had altered their daily routines significantly, with morning walkers now venturing out around 9-10 AM instead of early morning hours, hoping for marginally better air quality. Despite awareness and efforts from both residents and government authorities, the suffering from pollution continues unabated.
Vehicular Emissions Compound the Crisis
At Anand Vihar, where Delhi AQI levels reached 492, local residents identified vehicular pollution as a major contributing factor. Vinod Kumar, president of the DDA-flat Resident Welfare Association, explained that the area serves as a transportation hub with the bus terminal, railway station, and metro station located adjacent to each other. Lakhs of daily visitors to the locality face constant exposure to vehicular emissions, exacerbating the already critical air quality situation.
Dangerous PM2.5 Concentrations Recorded
The Delhi AQI levels translated into extraordinarily high PM2.5 concentrations across the capital. On Sunday, Nehru Nagar in Lajpat Nagar recorded hourly PM2.5 concentrations spiking to 720 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) at 11 PM. Other areas witnessed similarly alarming readings, with RK Puram touching 660 μg/m³ and Anand Vihar recording 651 μg/m³.
These average hourly PM2.5 concentrations were 10-12 times higher than the national daily ambient air quality standard of 60 μg/m³ and a staggering 48-50 times the World Health Organization’s daily safe guideline of 15 μg/m³.
Severe Health Implications of Current Delhi AQI Levels
Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at think tank Envirocatalysts, emphasized the grave health risks associated with current Delhi AQI levels. Scientific evidence globally demonstrates that long-term exposure to PM2.5 levels above 5 μg/m³ causes adverse health impacts. Current levels exceeding 500 μg/m³ don’t merely pose long-term risks like respiratory diseases, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases including heart attacks and strokes, but also result in immediate emergency hospitalizations due to asthma attacks and strokes.
Expert Warnings and Safety Recommendations
Mohammad Rafiuddin, programme lead at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), warned that even short-term exposure to such severe Delhi AQI levels could prove dangerous. He strongly advised residents to wear masks, emphasizing that brief exposure to current pollution levels can trigger immediate health complications.
The current crisis mirrors last winter’s situation when Delhi AQI levels had maxed out at 15 stations on November 18, recording the city’s second-highest AQI ever at 494. Sunday’s readings suggest the capital faces an equally severe, if not worse, air quality emergency requiring immediate and sustained intervention.
