NEW DLEHI: The pollution levels in the national capital shot up on Wednesday and mounted to severe category, prompting the Ministry of Earth Sciences to advise people to avoid outdoor physical activities and wear N-95 or P-100 respirators.
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Delhi's air quality index stood at 436 micrograms per cubic meter in severe category at noon. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 29 out of 36 pollution monitoring stations in Delhi showed severe air quality index reading.
Jahangirpuri, Patparganj and Anand Vihar areas of the national capital have the most noxious air, inching towards emergency levels.
The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), which comes under the aegis of Ministry of Earth Sciences issued a stringent warning, asking everyone to avoid physical activity outdoors and consult doctor if they experience unusual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue.
"If the room has windows, close them. If the air conditioner provides a fresh air intake option, close it. Avoid burning anything, such as wood, candles or even incense. Do not vacuum. Do wet mopping frequently. Masks known as N-95 or P-100 respirators may only help if you go out. Do not rely on dust masks for protection," the ministry further advised.
The air quality index is forecasted to remain in severe category by December 24 and "marginally improve to the higher end of very poor on December 25" due to slightly better ventilation conditions.
According to the weather forecasting agency, high humidity, colder temperature and calm surface-level winds will continue to put a break to the dispersion of accumulated pollutants till then.
Meanwhile, Delhi's neighbouring regions - Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida also recorded 'severe' quality of air, leaving aside Gurugram which had slightly better AQI at 333 micrograms per cubic meter. Ghaziabad and Greater Noida have the most polluted amongst all at 482 micrograms per cubic meter.
Nationwide, as many as 11 cities have very poor quality of air. Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida and Ghaziabad top the charts, followed by Noida and Bulandshahr. Aizawl city of Mizoram recorded the cleanest air in the country at 19 micrograms per cubic meter.
Air quality 'severe' in Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad for second consecutive day
The average air quality remained "severe" in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Faridabad for the second day in a row, while it was "very poor" in Gurugram, according to data for a 24-hour period issued by a government agency on Wednesday.
Presence of pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 also remained high in the five immediate neighbours of Delhi, according to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to the index, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
The average 24-hour AQI at 4 pm on Wednesday was 472 in Ghaziabad, 476 in Greater Noida, 462 in Noida, 428 in Faridabad and 340 in Gurugram, according to CPCB's Sameer app.
The CPCB states that an AQI in the "very poor" category may cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, while "severe" affects even healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.
The average AQI on Tuesday was 458 in Ghaziabad, 450 in Greater Noida, 437 in Noida, 407 in Faridabad and 377 in Gurugram. On Monday it was 391 in Ghaziabad, 366 in Greater Noida, 363 in Noida, 289 in Faridabad and 271 in Gurugram.
The AQI for each city is based on the average value of all stations there. Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad have four stations each, while Gurugram has three and Greater Noida two, according to the app.