Delhi Under A Thick Haze Of Dust, Air Quality ‘Severe’ Due To Dust Storm In Western India: As a thick blanket of haze and dust enveloped in the national capital, Delhi and some parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), the air quality nosedived is increased in the massive level.
The pollution masks are back in Delhi and people having been suggested to stay at home in the city, because of the dusty conditions are likely to continue for the next some more days.
The PM10 level, the presence of particles with the diameter which is less than 10mm, was beyond harsh at 796 in Delhi-NCR and 830 in Delhi particularly, which is also the reason of the hazy conditions in the city.
The air quality index (AQI) between 0-50 is considered “Good”, 51-100 “Satisfactory”, 101-200 “Moderate”, 201-300 “Poor”, 301-400 “Very Poor”, and 401-500 “Severe”.
For Delhi, which is reeling under scorching heat, it’s a double whammy which is the dust in the air isn’t permitting the heat to escape.
Among the various measures has been taken to improve the air quality, all construction activities have been also prevented and stopped, for a while, the fire officials will sprinkle water and machines will sweep streets.
“There will be strong dust raising winds throughout the day. This will continue on Friday as well,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
The toxic levels have prompted Mr Kejriwal to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for urgent intervention in order to stop the “strike” by IAS officers, so the issue could be deal with. He added that no meeting on pollution control could be held over the last three because of this “strike”.
According to MeT department, the wind speed of 25-35 kilometres per hour which has been forecasted for the day. The humidity level was 49 per cent this morning and the maximum temperature is said to be around 41 degrees Celsius.
As per the CPCB, the AQI — a measurement of the concentration of toxic particulate matter in the air – which is going on in the various places in Delhi remained beyond the 500-mark, with east Delhi’s Anand Vihar area recording a PM10 level of 929 and PM2.5 level of 301 this morning.
The air quality in Delhi is now so bad that this is reached to the ground-level dust storm in western India which increased coarser particles in the air; the Central Pollution Control Board data display the same.
The pollution in Delhi is as per the Experts suggest that has been worse than the smog episode in November 2017. The CPCB, though, said the pollution of this season was different from November 2017 when both PM2.5 and PM10 had spiked.
The current increase in levels of pollution is mainly bad because of the increase in coarse particles in the air that has caused a spike in PM10 level, it said.
The CPCB member-secretary, A Sudhakar, has warned inhabitants that the pollution level is expected remain like this for at least three to four days so people can feel discomfort in this pollution.
As a report of the World Health Organisation, last month said India was home to the world’s 14 most polluted cities, that the national capital, Delhi is ranked 6th in the category of the most polluted.
The Duststorm has also affected other north Indian cities also and the Flight operations have been suspended at the Chandigarh Airport because of the poor visibility subsequent to the dust storm.
At the same time, due to the Air India flight between Mumbai and Chandigarh was stranded at Delhi airport because of THE sandstorm in Chandigarh, budget airline SpiceJet said all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights can also get affected.
Jet Airways and Vistara also informed passengers about delays rescue of the bad weather in the city.
