New Delhi faces severe air pollution, CM announces steps to mitigate effects

Residents of New Delhi woke up to "severe" levels of air pollution on Saturday, with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) forecasting "very poor" air quality for the next six days.

In an immediate effort to reduce the impact of polluted air, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced on Friday a revision of working hours across government offices, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) readings and particulate matter (PM) levels in various parts of the city are as follows:

• Shadipur: AQI 454, PM 2.5
• Narela: AQI 449, PM 2.5
• Jahangirpuri: AQI 445, PM 2.5
• Wazirpur: AQI 441, PM 2.5
• Bawana: AQI 438, PM 2.5
• Vivek Vihar: AQI 436, PM 2.5
• North Campus, DU: AQI 436, PM 2.5
• Anand Vihar: AQI 436, PM 2.5
• Punjabi Bagh: AQI 425, PM 2.5
• Patparganj: AQI 427, PM 2.5
• Rohini: AQI 426, PM 2.5
• Nehru Nagar: AQI 424, PM 2.5
• Mundka: AQI 423, PM 2.5
• Sonia Vihar: AQI 420, PM 2.5
• Dwarka Sector 8: AQI 415, PM 2.5
• Lodhi Road (IITM): AQI 414, PM 2.5
• Major Dhyanchand National Stadium: AQI 413, PM 2.5
• Mandir Marg: AQI 411, PM 2.5
• IHBAS, Dilshad Garden: AQI 408, PM 2.5
• RK Puram: AQI 401, PM 2.5
• Pusa: AQI 399, PM 2.5
• Aya Nagar: AQI 398, PM 2.5
• IGI Airport (T3): AQI 395, PM 2.5
• Sirifort: AQI 390, PM 2.5
• Okhla Phase-2: AQI 387, PM 2.5
• DTU: AQI 383, PM 2.5
• Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range: AQI 380, PM 2.5
• NSIT Dwarka: AQI 367, PM 2.5
• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium: AQI 370, PM 2.5
• Chandni Chowk: AQI 372, PM 2.5
• ITO: AQI 357, PM 2.5
• Najafgarh: AQI 357, PM 2.5
• Lodhi Road (IMD): AQI 351, PM 2.5
• Shri Aurobindo Marg: AQI 264, PM 2.5
• CRRI Mathura Road: Data unavailable, PM 2.5

In response to the deteriorating air quality, Chief Minister Atishi had announced on Thursday that all primary schools in the capital would shift to online classes until further notice. "Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be switching to online classes, until further directions," Atishi said on X (formerly Twitter).