Delhi-NCR AQI Crosses 450: Breathing Capital’s Air Equals Smoking 15 Cigarettes A Day

Delhi-NCR is once again covered in toxic smog as the AQI crosses 450, making the air as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Here's how the pollution crisis is affecting health and daily life.

Delhi-NCR is once again choking under a thick blanket of smog as the air quality reaches dangerous levels. Researchers caution that at the moment, it is worse to breathe Delhi air than to smoke 15 cigarettes per day. As winter approaches, the pollution has gone beyond acceptable limits, and even healthy people can no longer afford to go out.

Delhi's Air Turns 'Hazardous'

In some areas of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) has exceeded 450, which is considered severe or hazardous. This implies that it contains small harmful particles of air referred to as PM2.5 and PM10, which may pass to the lungs and even the blood. Enclaves such as Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri and RK Puram had some of the lowest scores.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi-NCR continues to have'severe' air quality levels. As of 7 a.m., the ten most polluted areas were Wazirpur (458), Bawana (451), Chandni Chowk (449), Jahangirpuri (446), Mundka (444), Rohini (442), Nehru Nagar (440), Ashok Vihar (439), Burari Crossing (439), and Anand Vihar (438).

Breathing Delhi Air Equals 15 Cigarettes A Day

As per the health analysts, the pollution present in Delhi is comparable to 10-15 cigarettes smoked per day. These small particles destroy the lungs, the heart and the brain in the long run. Breathing problems, headaches, and irritation of the eyes can be triggered, even in the short term.

People who are at the greatest risk are children, the elderly and individuals with asthma or heart disease. It also has increased the cases of sore throat, cough and wheezing among doctors working in hospitals throughout the city.

GRAP Stage 3 Implemented Across Delhi-NCR

In response to deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government implemented Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) throughout Delhi-NCR on November 11. It also announced the shutdown of schools up to Class 5 and required all government, private, and unaided schools to function in hybrid mode.

Delhi CM Reacts to Rising AQI

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said, "Yesterday, I received news that the readings (air quality) weren't available for five or six hours. That wasn't Delhi's fault at all. It was an all-India issue. The app wasn't working at that time. Anyone could have gone online and seen that Delhi's records were correct. They were fully visible and workable throughout the area."

In a statement earlier in the day, the CAQM said, "The AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 362 on November 10, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded 425 at 9 am on November 11 owing to calm winds, stable atmosphere and unfavourable meteorological conditions."

It is advised to follow all the precautionary measures and stay safe and alert.