Black smog engulfs Delhi, PM 2.5 exceeds WHO's safer limits

PM 2.5 in the national capital remained more than 80 times the World Health Organizations' limit.

The concentration of PM2.5 in Delhi stands at 354 µg/m³, with PM10 at 552 µg/m³ in most of the areas in Delhi-NCR, which exceeds the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena chaired an emergency meeting yesterday to review the dipping air quality in the city and termed the situation worrisome.

The Interim measures were discussed in the meeting, including appeal to the general public to remain indoors as far as possible and use public transport to reduce emissions and dust pollution.

The LG reiterated the need to put in place a long-term permanent plan of action to mitigate the air pollution crisis.

According to a forecast issued by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, today the wind speed is likely to be around 6 to 8 kmph with shallow fog in the morning.

In neighbouring Noida, the air quality plummeted to the "severe" category, with an AQI of 576. Sectors 116 and 62 recorded AQIs of 426 and 428, respectively, according to the CPCB. Similarly, Gurgaon's air quality remained in the "severe" category, with an AQI of 512.

On Thursday with the air quality in the ‘severe’ category in Delhi, the Commission for Air Quality Management has invoked Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan.

Meanwhile, in Punjab, since the beginning of the paddy harvesting season from 15th September till Friday a total of 12 thousand 813 incidents of stubble burning in the fields have been reported.

The administration has taken action only in 973 incidents and imposed environmental compensation.