Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) continues to deteriorate as it crossed the 500 mark on Sunday, two days after Diwali. The air pollution The level is now in the alarming ‘Dangerous’ category in the national capital as of 5 am, which is harming the health of people living in Delhi and nearby areas.

A thick layer of smog enveloped the national capital and the AQI was recorded at 507, making PM2.5 levels in Delhi-NCR more than 65 times more threatening than the limit prescribed by WHO, according to data from the IQAir website.

An AQI, which is a ratio of air quality in a region, is considered “poor” between 200-300, “very poor” at 301 and 400, severe at 401 and 450, and above 450 is “severe-plus” and can cause harmful health problems to residents.

Delhi AQI rose by over 150 points in 12 hours

Meanwhile, the AQI figure rose from 327 to 507 in 12 hours in Delhi. At 9 pm on Saturday, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 327 in most areas.

Alipur, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aaya Nagar, Bawana, Burari, Mathura Road, IGI Airport, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Rohini, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Mandir Marg, Nehru Nagar, Najafgarh and other conditions weather-monitoring stations witnessed “very poor” air quality, according to the Sameer app, which provides hourly updates of the national AQI published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Air pollution in Delhi and Diwali

On Friday, a day after Diwali, the city’s air quality was recorded in the “very poor” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Most areas in the capital recorded an air quality index (AQI) above 350, raising health concerns for residents.

A recent survey by ‘LocalCircles’ revealed that most Delhi residents struggled to breathe as smoke from firecrackers worsened air pollution in the national capital.

Of the 21,000 respondents who took part in the survey from Delhi and neighboring NCR regions, 69% reported that at least one member in each family suffered from respiratory problems such as sore throat and cough, while 62% had suffered eye irritation from poor air quality.

GRAP-II is already in force in Delhi-NCR

Shockingly, the air in Delhi is getting worse day by day despite all possible measures like the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II) which is already being implemented in the national capital.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) ordered the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II) in Delhi-NCR on October 21 after the overall air quality index fell to ‘Very Poor’ category in the region.