Delhi-NCR Turns into a Gas Chamber as AQI Reaches 500; IMD Warns of Tough Days Ahead for North-West India

The level of pollution in Delhi has become very serious. The air quality i.e. AQI in Delhi-NCR has assumed a dangerous form. Despite the strong cold wind blowing since Sunday, the AQI has reached 500. By Monday evening, almost the whole of Delhi has turned into a gas chamber. The AQI of most areas has become 500 or close to 500. The highest AQI was recorded in Mundka area. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented the fourth phase of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR from November 18. The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Center and the state governments of Delhi and NCR for the pollution reaching the danger level.

The court has ordered the closure of schools up to class 12 and conducting classes online. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department of India i.e. IMD has said that the next 5 days will be very difficult for North-West India including Delhi.

According to IMD, dense to very dense fog is likely to continue during night and morning hours in some parts of Northwest India during the next 5 days. Cold winds will also blow during this time. In such a situation, on one hand, the suffocating pollution and on the other hand, fog along with cold winds will increase the troubles of the people of Delhi-NCR.

37% of the pollution in Delhi is caused by stubble burning in Delhi and surrounding states. At the same time, 12% of the pollution is due to carbon emissions from vehicles. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI 450+ was recorded at 19 locations in Delhi at 5 pm on Monday. Ashok Vihar's AQI was 500, Bawana's 500, Karani Singh Range's 500, Dwarka's 500, Jahangirpuri's 500, Major Dhyanchand Stadium's 500, Mundka's 500, Najafgarh's 500, Nehru Nagar's 500, North Campus's 500, Patparganj's 500, Punjabi Bagh's 500, Rohini's 500, Sirifort's 500, Wazirpur's 500, Sonia Vihar's 499, Mandir Marg's 499, Okhla's 499 and Anand Vihar's AQI was recorded at 499. Apart from Delhi, AQI has reached close to 400 in many cities of Haryana as well.

-IMD said that due to cyclonic circulation, heavy to very heavy rains are expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and different places during the next 24 hours. There will be fog in different areas of Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Also, dense fog is likely to prevail in different areas of Delhi, Chandigarh and West Bengal. During this time, visibility can be up to 51-200 meters.

-IMD said that light rain is expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala from 19 to 22 November. Light rain is also expected in some parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur and Mizoram. Rain has been forecast in Tripura on 22 and 26 November.

- According to IMD, dense to very dense fog is expected in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh for the next 5 days. Cold winds will blow in the morning and the weather will become colder in the evening.

- Dense fog is likely to prevail in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal for 2 days. There is a forecast of fog in some parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UP from 20 to 23 November.

-IMD said that the temperature will drop by 2 to 4 degrees in the next 5 days in Maharashtra and Gujarat region. There is also a possibility of a drop in temperature in the states of North West and East India.

To control pollution in Delhi, its level has been divided into 4 categories. Standards and measures have been set for each level. This is called a Graded Action Response Plan i.e. GRAP. GRAP-1: Bad (AQI 201-300), GRAP-2: Very Bad (AQI 301-400), GRAP-3: Severe (AQI 401 to 450) and GRAP-4: Very Severe (AQI more than 450) situation.

GRAP-3 was in force in Delhi from 14th November. Today, i.e. from 18th November, all the restrictions of GRAP-4 have been imposed.

In a survey conducted by the private agency Local Circle, it was claimed that 69% of the families in Delhi-NCR are affected by pollution. The survey report released on Friday revealed that at least 1 member of 62% of the families in Delhi-NCR has irritation in the eyes. At the same time, in 46% of the families, one member has a cold or breathing problem (nasal congestion) and in 31% of the families, one member has asthma.

21 thousand people participated in this survey. 31% of the respondents said that their family member has a headache problem. In 23% of the families, one member has difficulty focusing due to pollution. 15% said that one of the members of their family has difficulty sleeping. At the same time, 15% said that they are planning to go out of Delhi in the polluted month.