New Delhi: Air quality in the national capital deteriorated sharply on Tuesday evening, pushing several parts of the city back into the hazardous category. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed a rapid rise in pollution levels over the last forty-eight hours, with nineteen out of thirty-nine monitoring stations recording air quality in the “severe” range.
By 9 p.m., Delhi registered an Air Quality Index reading of 390, a steep increase from 304 on Monday and 279 on Sunday. The areas showing the highest concentration of pollutants included Burari, Anand Vihar, Mundka, Bawana, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Sonia Vihar, and Ashok Vihar.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has stated that no immediate relief is expected. According to its forecast, the city’s air quality is likely to remain in the “very poor” category until at least December 5, with conditions expected to stay unchanged for nearly a week thereafter. Officials warn that this prolonged exposure to toxic air can pose serious health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
Pollution data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer application highlighted severe levels at key monitoring locations such as Chandni Chowk, Nehru Nagar, Okhla Phase Two, R. K. Puram, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and Wazirpur. In Chandni Chowk, the Air Quality Index crossed 470, one of the highest readings for the day.
Under national air quality standards, an index reading between 0 and 50 is considered good and 51 to 100 satisfactory, while readings above 400 fall in the severe category. Long exposure to such levels of air pollution is known to cause coughing, throat irritation, asthma attacks, and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
Transport emissions continued to be the single largest source of local air pollution, accounting for 18.4 per cent of total emissions on Tuesday. This was followed by pollution from industrial activities at the city’s periphery, which contributed 9.2 per cent. Neighbouring urban centres also added to Delhi’s toxic air. Authorities estimate that Noida, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Panipat, and Gurugram together contributed more than twenty per cent of overall pollution.
Transport emissions are expected to remain high on Wednesday, with forecasts showing a contribution of over 15 per cent. Officials are monitoring the situation while urging residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak pollution hours, wear protective masks, and use public transport wherever possible.
With no major change in weather conditions expected in the coming days, experts say Delhi will continue to struggle with poor air quality unless strict emergency measures are implemented to control emissions from vehicles, industries, and construction activities.