NEW DELHI: With an alarming 398 on the Air Quality Index (AQI), Delhi's air quality continued to worsen on Thursday, staying in the "very poor" category for the seventh day in a row.
21 out of 40 monitoring stations throughout the city reported AQI levels in the "severe" category, indicating hazardous air quality that poses serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer app. Some of the city's most polluted areas include DTU, Burari, Chandni Chowk, Anand Vihar, Mundka, Okhla, Bawana, and Wazirpur, where AQI levels exceeded 400.
Even for healthy people, an AQI of more than 400 is regarded as "severe," and experts caution that it can lead to major health issues, including long-term lung damage, respiratory infections, and eye irritation. Residents and environmental experts are concerned about the ongoing pollution crisis, and many are calling on the government to take more stringent action to combat air pollution. The city's air quality has continued to be a serious problem, especially in the winter when weather, crop burning in nearby states, and vehicle emissions all contribute to higher pollution levels.
To reduce exposure to the negative effects of contaminated air, authorities have been advising people to wear protective masks and limit their outdoor activities. In the meantime, calls for more practical long-term solutions, such as encouraging greener modes of transportation and enforcing pollution control regulations more strictly, continue to intensify.
