Delhi-NCR air quality remains in 'very poor' category; overall AQI at 362

The Air Quality Index AQI in Delhi and its National Capital Region on Thursday morning remained under the very poor category with the Graded Response Action Plan GRAP II norms already in place reported news agency PTIAccording to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB the overall Air Quality Index AQI in the national capital stood at 362 as of 6 am today reported PTIThe AQI in the RK Puram area of southwest Delhi remains very poor at 362 as of 600 am today The AQI at Patparganj also remains very poor at 361 reported PTIThe AQI at India Gate and the surrounding areas was recorded at 353 classified as Very Poor by the CPCBThe Air Quality Index near AIIMS and the surrounding areas was recorded at 342 The AQI around the Akshardham temple was recorded at 350 this morning Anand Vihar area recorded at 428 in the Severe category reported PTIA day after Diwali Delhis air quality was recorded in the very poor category on Tuesday As per CPCB the overall AQI in the national capital stood at 351 as of 400 PM reported PTIMeanwhile Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas CAQM subcommittee on GRAP comprehensively reviewed the air quality scenario in the region as well as the meteorological conditions and air quality forecasts on Sunday and took a call to invoke the 12point action plan as per StageII of the extant GRAP in the entire National Capital Region in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air qualityFurthermore the health experts have raised concerns about the rising Air Quality Index AQI and its impact on vulnerable groups particularly children the elderly and those with respiratory ailmentsOn Tuesday Dr Nikhil Modi Respiratory Medicine Specialist at Apollo Hospitals explained the seasonal factors contributing to the spike in pollutionAs winter approaches every year we see the AQI start to rise because as the air cools the wind speed decreases and cold air does not rise causing pollution to accumulate at lower levels Before Diwali we began to notice that the AQI was increasing and after Diwali it was anticipated that the AQI would continue to rise As soon as pollution increases people with allergies and lung problems face issues like difficulty in breathing coughing watery eyes and other symptoms Dr Modi said reported PTIDelhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa highlighted the efforts in controlling Delhis pollution on Tuesday stressing that despite a 21 per cent growth in construction and an 8 per cent increase in new vehicle registrations pollution levels have remained stable reported PTISirsa also shared that Delhis postDiwali air quality is significantly better than in previous years 2020 under AAP rule AQI 462 2024 AQI 360 and 2025 AQI 351With inputs from ANI