New Delhi, Nov 18 (FN Bureau) The air quality in the national capital plunged to hazardous levels on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 495 by 7 pm, placing it in the “severe plus” category. Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) were enveloped in a thick layer of smog with low visibility throughout the day. The data of the Central Pollution Control Board revealed that certain areas in Delhi recorded even higher AQI levels.
Stations in Anand Vihar, Bawana, Sonia Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Dwarka, Patparganj, Wazirpur, Vivek Vihar, RK Puram, Siri Fort, Ashok Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Najafgarh, and Rohini recorded an AQI of 500. Other stations also recorded an AQI of severe plus levels, with Sri Aurobindo registering an AQI of 498, Alipur at 496, and Aya Nagar at 494. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Delhi and the NCR are likely to experience smog and dense fog during the night and morning hours for the next two days. An Air Quality Index between 0 and 50 is considered “good,” 51 to 100 “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 “moderate,” 201 to 300 “poor,” 301 to 400 “very poor,” and 401 to 450 “severe.” An AQI above 450 is classified as “severe plus.”