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Delhi Air Pollution Highlights: AQI Drops to 444, Improves To 'Severe' Category
NDTV News Desk | Updated: November 19, 2024 23:58 IST
Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) nearly touched the 500 mark on Tuesday morning.
Delhi Air Pollution Highlights: The air quality in Delhi slightly improved to the "severe" category on Tuesday evening as the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 444 at around 9pm, after touching nearly 500 in the "severe plus" category earlier in the day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The 24-hour average AQI, recorded daily at 4pm, stood at 460 on Tuesday, down from 494 on Monday. The CPCB said that Monday's reading was the second-worst air quality recorded since AQI tracking began in 2015.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good,' 51-100 'satisfactory,' 101-200 'moderate,' 201-300 'poor,' 301-400 'very poor,' 401-450 'severe,' and above 450 'severe plus.' At 4 pm on Tuesday, CPCB data recorded PM2.5 level at 307, which was the prominent pollutant.
Here are today's developments on the Delhi air pollution crisis:
At 78.67 lakh, Delhi Metro Records Highest-Ever Daily Ridership Amid Pollution
Amid the severe pollution gripping the national capital, Delhi Metro recorded its highest-ever daily ridership on Monday, with a staggering 78.67 lakh passenger journeys, according to official data. On Monday, Delhi Transport Corporation's contractual bus drivers and conductors also held a strike leading to a disruption in public transportation.
What Is Artificial Rain And Will It Help Combat Delhi Pollution?
As the air in the national capital has turned 'severe' with the air quality index touching nearly 500 in some areas earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi Government requested the Centre to allow cloud seeding- a method used to induce artificial rain to combat air pollution. According to experts, artificial rain can wash away pollutants from the atmosphere and help improve the air quality. How is artificial rain induced and will it work for Delhi? Click here to read.
As the air in the national capital has turned 'severe' with the air quality index touching nearly 500 in some areas earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi Government requested the Centre to allow cloud seeding- a method used to induce artificial rain to combat air pollution. According to experts, artificial rain can wash away pollutants from the atmosphere and help improve the air quality. How is artificial rain induced and will it work for Delhi? Click here to read.
Delhi AQI Sees Slight Improvement, Drops to 444
The air quality in Delhi slightly improved to the "severe" category on Tuesday evening as the AQI dropped to 444 at around 9pm, after touching nearly 500 in the "severe plus" category earlier in the day, data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed.
Delhi Minister writes to Union Environment Minister over clearances for artificial rain
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav over clearances for artificial rain, saying that it is "needed" as an emergency measure to reduce pollution and help citizens.
"Clearances needed from Centre's DGCA, MHA, Defence Ministry, and other agencies...request Union Environment Minister to convene stakeholder meeting immediately," he wrote in the letter.
Gopal Rai calls for 'united effort' in North India to curb pollution
Gopal Rai pitched for a united effort in North Indian states to mitigate pollution, while accusing BJP governments in neighbouring states of doing 'politics' over air pollution.
"In Centre, UP, Haryana and Rajasthan, there are BJP governments. They don't know how to do something other than politics. All the governments of the Northern States will have to work together. The Delhi government is working day and night and the BJP government is sitting silently. This gap needs to be filled," Gopal Rai told ANI.
Delhi BJP leaders protest against AAP-led Delhi government over air pollution
Delhi BJP leaders and workers on Tuesday held a protest against the AAP-led Delhi government over the issue of air pollution in the national capital.
Delhi BJP leaders and workers on Tuesday held a protest against the AAP-led Delhi government over the issue of air pollution in the national capital.
#WATCH | Delhi BJP leaders and workers hold protest against the AAP-led Delhi government over the issue of air pollution
- ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2024
Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva says, "...I want to alert the people of Delhi. This mask is a warning of the times to come. If Arvind Kejriwal's... pic.twitter.com/buU6TTrzv5
Delhi Environment Minister considers more curbs on vehicles, artificial rain
Amid the worsening air pollution in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that they are considering further curbs on vehicles. They are also mulling an option of artificial rain to help clear the smog, he said.
Amid the worsening air pollution in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that they are considering further curbs on vehicles. They are also mulling an option of artificial rain to help clear the smog, he said.
Jamia Millia Islamia announce to go online due to 'severe plus' AQI
Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi announces that the classes will be conducted in online mode till Saturday, November 23 due to the severe air quality. In a notice, the institute said, "The AQI in Delhi and NCR has deteriorated to an alarmingly high index. In the larger interest of students of the University, it has been decided that the classes shall be conducted in online mode till November 23."
It added that the regular classes in physical mode shall resume from November 25.
Shashi Tharoor, Delhi AQI: Should Delhi Even Remain Indian Capital: Congress MP As Delhi Air Pollution WorsensA thick layer of smog has been enveloping Delhi for the past few days with the air quality index (AQI) plummeting to the "severe-plus" category. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has questioned whether Delhi should remain the Indian capital as the city's worsening toxic smog surged past 60 times the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum.
Delhi's Severe Pollution Takes Centre Stage At COP29Delhi's hazardous air quality was a key focus at COP29, as experts warned about the health risks of air pollution and called for immediate global action.
Manoj Tiwari distributes masks in Delhi as air quality remains toxic
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday morning distributed masks to the public at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station as air quality remains toxic in the national capital.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday morning distributed masks to the public at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station as air quality remains toxic in the national capital.
#WATCH | Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari distributes masks to the public at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station as air quality remains in the 'Severe' category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). pic.twitter.com/2E9sliLLlq
- ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2024
Delhi Air Remains Toxic, Trains Delayed, Schools In Nearby Cities Go OnlineA thick blanket of smog continued to grip Delhi and its adjoining areas on Tuesday morning, as the air quality nearly touched the 500 mark.
All schools in Ghaziabad go online
The district magistrate of Ghaziabad has ordered all schools to discontinue physical classes till Class 12 and conduct online classes until further notice. This comes as Ghaziabad touched an AQI of over 450 on Monday.
The district magistrate of Ghaziabad has ordered all schools to discontinue physical classes till Class 12 and conduct online classes until further notice. This comes as Ghaziabad touched an AQI of over 450 on Monday.
22 trains delayed due to low visibility
At least 22 trains have been delayed on Tuesday morning due to the low visibility owing to the poor air quality.
At least 22 trains have been delayed on Tuesday morning due to the low visibility owing to the poor air quality.
Delhi University, JNU shift classes online
With Delhi's air quality remaining toxic in the 'severe plus' category, the Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have shifted their classes online.
With Delhi's air quality remaining toxic in the 'severe plus' category, the Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have shifted their classes online.
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Published: November 19, 2024 09:32 IST
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