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Noida, November 3 (IANS) The capital is gasping once again. As deep smog engulfs the Delhi-NCR region, air pollution levels have increased to dangerous levels. According to the latest official estimates, only seven of Delhi’s 39 air monitoring stations recorded the air quality index (AQI) below the danger mark, while the rest slipped from “very poor” to “severe” categories.
The air quality remains stifling in most parts of Delhi. RK Puram (335), Rohini (352), Sonia Vihar (350), Wazirpur (377), and Vivek Vihar (373) recorded AQI above 300 – indicating severe pollution. Other areas like Sirifort (338), Shadipur (330), and Pusa (333) also had very poor air quality. Across the border, Noida is also facing a similar crisis. The AQI stood at 304 in Sector 62, 306 in Sector 116 and 299 in Sector 125 – all hovering around the “very poor” mark.
The situation in Ghaziabad presents a more serious picture. The AQI was recorded at 344 in Loni and 358 in Vasundhara, both falling in the “severe” category. Such poisonous air is directly affecting public health. Experts warn that long-term exposure to this pollution can cause respiratory diseases, asthma, chronic cough, eye irritation and severe headaches. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children and pregnant women, have been urged to stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
A dense blanket of smog has engulfed the city, making morning and evening travel dangerous. Drivers have to deal with blurred visibility as the sky turns into a hazy, hazy blur. The weather department has predicted little respite in the coming days, citing slow wind speeds and falling temperatures, which are trapping pollutants closer to the surface.
Authorities have urged residents to reduce private vehicle use, opt for carpooling or public transportation, and strictly follow dust-control measures at construction sites. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the national capital’s overall AQI on Sunday stood at 366 – in the “very poor” category – while three stations recorded “severe” levels above 400.
CPCB data showed the PM2.5 concentration at 189.6 micrograms per cubic metre, and the PM10 level at 316 – both far above the safe limits. These microscopic particles, invisible to the eye, silently enter the lungs and bloodstream, posing serious health risks.
According to a recent Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, air pollution remains the biggest health threat for Delhi in 2023, contributing to about 15 per cent of all deaths.
–IANS
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