 "Delhi air quality plummets, AQI hits 347 as dense smog blankets city")
Delhi's air quality worsened early Monday, as the city was blanketed in dense smog and the air quality index (AQI) dropped to 347, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data at 7 am. This placed the city in the "very poor" category, with the AQI reading at 334 on Sunday at 4 pm.
Around a dozen monitoring stations recorded AQI levels close to 350, also within the "very poor" range. In the ITI Jahangirpuri area, the AQI rose to 377, which is classified as "severe" under CPCB guidelines.
Monday saw Delhi’s maximum temperature reach 31 degrees Celsius, slightly above the seasonal average, following a weekend high of 32.5 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was 23 degrees Celsius, which is three degrees above normal, according to CPCB data.
The AQI is categorised as follows: a reading between 0 and 50 is deemed "good"; 51 to 100 is classified as "satisfactory"; 101 to 200 is considered "moderate"; 201 to 300 is labelled "poor"; 301 to 400 falls under "very poor"; and 401 to 500 is identified as "severe".
Delhi pollution: 'EV as a service' initiative
To combat pollution, the Delhi government has rolled out initiatives like the "EV as a Service" programme, which was launched on Sunday with Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar leading the event. The programme promotes electric vehicles as eco-friendly alternatives, with Khattar highlighting these efforts by participating in a bicycle and tractor ride, news agency ANI reported.
Additionally, anti-smog guns have been deployed to spray water in affected areas. On Sunday, thick smog made many city landmarks, buildings, and infrastructure barely visible.
More From This Section
Delhi pollution update: Drone-based mist spraying
Last week, the Delhi government conducted a trial of "drone-based mist spraying" at Anand Vihar, one of Delhi’s pollution hotspots. During the test, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai noted that pollution levels in such hotspots are often higher than the city’s overall AQI.
The drones used in this pilot can carry up to 15 litres of water, releasing a fine mist to help suppress airborne pollutants, especially in crowded or inaccessible areas.
Rai said that a report on the trial's effectiveness will be submitted to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the environment department for review. This trial is part of the broader Winter Action Plan, launched on September 25, which outlines 21 initiatives aimed at tackling winter pollution. Drone technology is being tested as an innovative approach to reach high-pollution areas that conventional methods cannot easily access.
(With agency inputs)