NEW DELHI: Most parts of Delhi and its neighbouring areas, including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, remained engulfed in smog for the third consecutive day on Friday. Anti-pollution curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III have come into effect as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in several areas reached 'severe' levels.
According to Swiss air technology company IQAir, the AQI in some parts of Delhi ranged between 800 and 1,100, categorised as ‘hazardous’. Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, and Vasant Vihar (VV) Block C recorded the highest AQI levels, with readings of 1,105, 1,057, and 1,041, respectively.
IQAir calculates the AQI using data from a global network of government monitoring stations and its own sensors.
Meanwhile, concerns were raised about discrepancies in AQI figures across various platforms. Some experts noted that the numbers reported globally are derived from a combination of computer modelling and satellite data, which could lead to variations.
The deteriorating air quality sparked widespread discussions on social media. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi shared her experience, stating, “Coming back to Delhi from Wayanad, where the air is beautiful and the AQI is 35, was like entering a gas chamber. The blanket of smog is even more shocking when seen from the air. Delhi’s pollution gets worse every year. We really should put our heads together and find a solution for cleaner air. It’s beyond this party or that; it’s practically impossible to breathe, especially for kids, elders, and those with respiratory issues. We just have to do something about it.”
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, on his morning walk, said, “Delhi has become a gas chamber. AAP used to blame stubble burning in Punjab for that. Now, more than 6,000 cases of stubble burning have happened in Punjab, but they chose to stay silent on that. They blame Diwali, UP, and Haryana for the rise in air pollution, but they remain silent on the internal reasons for Delhi’s situation. Whether it is pollution in the Yamuna River or air pollution in Delhi, AAP is responsible for all this.”
Seobhan Henue, an international journalist, remarked, “Even after dampening rain, Delhi’s air pollution is so thick you can’t see the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is at a putrid 723+. The international threshold for health-threatening pollution is 30.”
The dire air quality has sparked urgent calls for action as residents grapple with the hazardous conditions. Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses remain the most vulnerable, with many expressing frustration over the lack of tangible solutions to tackle the persistent pollution crisis.
