Delhi Air : Quality Stays Poor as Fog Disrupts Northern Airports
Delhi Air: The national capital began Saturday with air quality continuing to hover in the poor range, raising health concerns for residents across the city. Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board showed the overall Air Quality Index at 271 around 7 am, indicating pollution levels that may cause discomfort to people with respiratory conditions and prolonged exposure risks for the general population.
Widespread Poor Air Quality Across Monitoring Stations
Air quality readings from several monitoring stations reflected a consistent pattern of elevated pollution levels. Parts of northwest and west Delhi recorded some of the highest AQI values. Mundka and Wazirpur each logged an AQI of 331, placing them in the very poor category. Dwarka Sector 8 also crossed into very poor territory with a reading of 329.
Other densely populated areas showed similarly concerning figures. Okhla Phase-2 reported an AQI of 323, RK Puram stood at 322, Punjabi Bagh at 318, and Rohini recorded 312. Ashok Vihar registered a level of 309, while Chandni Chowk posted 285 and ITO recorded 279, reflecting sustained pollution across central parts of the city.
Relatively Lower Readings in Peripheral Areas
Some outer regions of Delhi reported comparatively lower AQI values, though they remained within the poor category. Narela recorded an AQI of 232, while Alipur stood at 227. Burari and Bawana reported readings of 246 and 271 respectively. While these numbers suggest slightly improved conditions compared to central zones, they still fall short of healthy air quality standards.
Understanding AQI Categories and Health Impact
The Air Quality Index categorises pollution levels on a scale from 0 to 500. Readings between 0 and 50 are considered good, while 51 to 100 are satisfactory. Levels from 101 to 200 fall under moderate, 201 to 300 are classified as poor, and 301 to 400 are marked very poor. Any reading above 400 is considered severe. Prolonged exposure to air quality in the poor and very poor range can aggravate asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory issues, particularly among children and the elderly.
Fog Affects Airports Across North and Central India
Alongside pollution concerns, weather conditions disrupted travel across parts of north and central India on Saturday morning. The India Meteorological Department reported varying fog intensity at several airports between 6:00 am and 6:30 am IST, affecting visibility and flight operations.
Zero Visibility Reported in Several Cities
Very dense fog conditions were observed at multiple locations, where visibility dropped below 50 metres. Airports in Ambala, Agra, Bareilly, Saifai, Hindon, and Gwalior reported zero visibility during the early morning hours. Such conditions significantly impact aircraft movement and often lead to delays or diversions.
Dense and Moderate Fog in Other Regions
Cities including Varanasi and Lucknow recorded visibility levels of around 50 metres, placing them in the dense fog category. Prayagraj reported slightly improved conditions with visibility at 100 metres. Moderate fog was observed at Jorhat in Assam, where visibility stood at 200 metres, while Bagdogra in West Bengal reported visibility of 400 metres.
Shallow Fog Observed at Several Airports
Shallow fog conditions were noted at a number of airports, with visibility ranging between 500 and 1,000 metres. Adampur in Punjab recorded visibility of 500 metres, Bhatinda reported 600 metres, and Halwara in Punjab along with Gaya in Bihar recorded visibility levels of around 800 metres.
As winter conditions persist, authorities continue to monitor air quality and weather developments closely, urging caution for commuters, travellers, and those vulnerable to pollution-related health issues.