Air quality in Delhi remains poor, with the AQI standing at 298 in the city, Akshardham and Anand Vihar, with vehicular emissions being the main contributor.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a thick layer of toxic smog blanketed Delhi on Wednesday (December 10) morning and the air quality level was recorded as ‘poor’ in many parts of the city.

In Akshardham and Ghazipur areas, the air quality index (AQI) stood at 298, putting both the areas firmly in the ‘poor’ category. Anand Vihar also recorded AQI 298, indicating similarly poor air quality levels.

Morning visuals of India Gate and Kartavya Path showed thick smoke over iconic stretches, where the AQI was recorded at 225, which was also classified as ‘poor’.

As pollution levels continue to be a health concern, Sangeeta Reddy, joint managing director of Apollo Hospitals, stressed the urgent need for a collective response. “It is an important aspect that the environment plays a role in health care and preventive health care. As a country and a world, we have to understand the impact of the environment. We must come together to take a multi-pronged approach because one thing is not enough,” he told news agency ANI.

Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain in the ‘poor’ category throughout the week, with weather conditions likely to limit the spread of pollutants.

According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’.

According to the Decision Support System for Delhi’s Air Quality Management, vehicular emissions within the city contributed 17.1 per cent to local pollution on Tuesday, followed by industries in Delhi and surrounding areas at 8.3 per cent and domestic emissions at 4.1 per cent.

For Wednesday too, the system estimated vehicle emissions to be the main source of pollutants – contributing about 17.1 per cent.