Delhi’s air quality showed a slight improvement on Tuesday morning, shifting from the ‘severe’ category to ‘very poor’ after five days of severe pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital dropped from 421 to 394.
Despite the improvement, the levels of PM2.5 particles, which can cause respiratory problems, were still seven to eight times higher than the safe limit set by the government and 30 to 40 times higher than the limit set by the World Health Organisation. This dangerous air pollution is not limited to Delhi alone, as nearby cities in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are also experiencing hazardous air quality.
Due to concerns over worsening air quality after Diwali, the Delhi government has reintroduced the odd-even program, which restricts car usage based on the odd or even number of license plates. Additionally, in-person classes for all grades, except for Classes 10 and 12 preparing for board exams, have been suspended until November 10 to protect students from the harmful effects of air pollution.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi-NCR, the region is expected to experience severe air quality for the next five to six days. This decline in air quality can be attributed to the combination of falling temperatures, stagnant winds, and an increase in paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.
Delhi’s air quality is among the worst globally, with a University of Chicago report suggesting that air pollution reduces life expectancy by almost 12 years.
