After a period of three months and 19 days, residents of Delhi faced a significant decline in air quality on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 235, falling into the poor category.
According to the official data, this marks the first time since June 5, 2024, when the AQI reached 248, that the capital has experienced poor air quality.
The primary contributor to the city's air pollution is currently the transport sector, according to the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management in Delhi.
On Tuesday, the AQI had been recorded in the "moderate" category, with a reading of 197 until 4 PM, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
On the same day, Environment Minister Gopal Rai unveiled the Winter Action Plan, which includes 21 focused initiatives aimed at combating air pollution in the national capital.
Key components of the plan encompass an anti-dust campaign, increased road sweeping, water sprinkling, awards for excellence in pollution mitigation, and awareness campaigns, along with measures to curb stubble burning.
Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in the national capital on Wednesday settled at 37.3 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average, according to the IMD.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 26.8 degrees Celsius, 2.9 notches above normal while the humidity was 60 per cent at 5.30 pm.
The weather department has predicted a partly cloudy sky on Thursday with light rain and thundershowers.
The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 34 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius respectively.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
A typical 10-20 minute hair styling routine using common hair care products and heated tools can release alarming levels of nanoparticle air pollution, comparable to standing by a busy highway, a new Purdue University study reveals.
Mumbai's pav is traditionally baked in wood-fired ovens. However, due to their contribution to air pollution in the city, bakeries have been directed to adopt greener alternatives.
At a review meeting on Monday, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa went over the city's revised State Action Plan on Climate Change, setting targets for 2050 across nine key sectors
CVD In Indians: Here we share tips to help reduce chronic heart disease risk which are designed to be realistic, relatable and easy to follow.
The average daily microplastic exposure rose from 10.7 particles in the colder months to 21.1 in the hotter season, the study highlighted.
................................ Advertisement ................................
Opinion | Why Indians Have Just Given Up On Air Pollution CrisisTanushree Ganguly
Friday December 20, 2024While some may argue that people in Delhi are now more aware of air pollution than they were a decade back, my rebuttal would be that awareness does not mean that people are concerned.
Opinion | You Must Outrage Over Filthy Air More Than Once A YearJyoti Pande Lavakare
Tuesday December 10, 2024Delhi welcomed us with monsoon rains and mangos. We were home. Fast forward a couple of years, in the winter of 2012, I found myself in denial about something other parents, mostly expats, were calling toxic air.
Opinion | Delhi's Air Pollution Situation Is Like A Bad MarriageNishtha Gautam
Friday November 22, 2024On a good day, such as today, the AQI reading in Delhi is 407. We are jubilant at the sickly sunshine trickling through the slightly dissipated smog. At least its not 1600.
दिवाली... पराली... सियासी जुगाली!Ashwini kumar
Monday November 18, 2024दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण का समाधान तो आज तक मिला नहीं. हर साल चिंतित होकर हम-आप सांसों की तकलीफ के साथ-साथ दिल और ब्लड प्रेशर के मरीज भी क्यों बनें?
घर में कैद बुजुर्ग और हांफते लोग, दिल्ली की सांसों में घुला ये कैसा रोग?Nidhi Kulpati
Friday November 08, 2024हमारी हवा जहरीली हो रही है. गुरुवार की शाम को जब मैं इस मुद्दे पर लिखने बैठी तो AQI लगातार 400 पार जाकर दम घोंट रहा था. बहुत लोगों को यह मामला बोरिंग लगे, लेकिन जब आप अपने साथ काम करने वालों को खांसते-हांफते देखते-सुनते हैं, तो चिंता होने लगती है. सुबह उठते ही दरवाजे खिड़कियां खोलने के लिए डॉक्टर मना कर रहे हैं. बड़े बुजुर्गों के लिए तो मॉर्निंग वॉक बाहर की दुनिया से सीधे संपर्क का ज़रिया है, लेकिन डॉक्टर इसकी भी मनाही कर रहे हैं.