Delhi AQI hits 999, enters ''hazardous'' level; flight operations affected

New Delhi, November 3

Air quality index (AQI) in Delhi touched the 'hazardous' level of 999, an air quality monitor said, pushing the city back into the “severe” plus category after a brief respite on Saturday evening.

Smog continued to smother the national capital, affecting flight operations at the Delhi Airport.

The thick smog pushed up the minimum temparture in the city to 18.7 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average.

Air India said 12 of its flights had to diverted from Delhi airport since 9 am on Sunday. Delhi Airport said 32 flights had  been cancelled so far. A glance at the Delhi Airport's live flight status shows that most flights, both domestic and international, are running behind schedule. 

In a tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressed the dangerous levels of pollution. He wrote: “Pollution has rched unbearable levels across N India. Del govt taken many steps. Delhiites hv made many sacrifices. Del suffering for no fault of theirs. Punjab CM also expressd concern. Centre shud take immediate steps 2 provide relief. V will support Centre in all initiatives.”

Pollution has rched unbearable levels across N India. Del govt taken many steps. Delhiites hv made many sacrifices. Del suffering for no fault of theirs. Punjab CM also expressd concern. Centre shud take immediate steps 2 provide relief. V will support Centre in all initiatives https://t.co/Vx85xYlDId

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 3, 2019

Accorting to the The World Air Quality Project, areas under the “hazardous” category were Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (999), ITI Jahangirpuri (999), Punjabi Bagh (999), New Delhi US Embassy (814).

The city received 0.3 mm rain in the past 24 hours which slightly lowered the hazardous level of air pollutants in the air.

Relative humidity was 85 per cent at 8.30 am, said a MeT department official.

The day is forecast to remain generally cloudy with light rain or drizzle expected later on. The maximum temperature will be around 28 degrees Celsius, he said.

The air seed was around three knots at 8.30 am, the official said, adding the visibility was poor due to the smog.

Some respite is expected from the heavy pollution, with strong surface winds forecast in daytime on Monday and Tuesday.

The monitor classifies levels above 300 as "hazardous".  

All government and private schools up till Class 12 in Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed on November 4 and 5 in the wake of spike in the pollution level, officials said on Sunday.

The administrations of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad said the decision has been taken as the levels of particulate matter 2.5 and 10 have been excessive in the air since Diwali, resulting in a major dip in the overall air quality.

"Transport vehicles like buses and minibuses, which a lot of schools use to ferry children, are a major contributor of PM 2.5 and PM 10. The movement of such vehicles in the city now could aggravate the situation," District Magistrate B N Singh said in a written order.

"Hence, it is ordered that all schools up till Class 12 in Gautam Buddh Nagar will remain closed on November 4 and 5," he added.

A similar order was passed by Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey, noting that the pollution was impacting the health of children.

 At 10.35 am on Sunday, the air quality index (AQI) of Noida was 487, while that of Greater Noida was 470, both in the "severe" category, which means it affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.

At 1.35 pm, the AQI in Ghaziabad's Indirapuram was recorded at 492 and in Raj Nagar at 480, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. — With agencies 

Source: aqicn.org/city/india/new-delhi