New Delhi: As the national capital and its adjoining areas, including Noida and Gurugram, continue to choke amid rising air pollution levels, the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit the 500-mark (severe plus) in several areas of Delhi on Tuesday, November 19.

The areas with over 500 AQI include Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Narela, Palam, Nehru Nagar, Mundka, Okhla, Dwarka and Jahangirpuri. As air pollution woes worsen, residents woke up to a thick layer of toxic smog enveloping the city and its neighbouring areas on Tuesday as well for the seventh consecutive day.

Delhi Air Pollution: AQI Hits 500-Mark

On Monday, the Union health secretary issued an updated advisory to states and union territories in regard to air pollution. In the wake of the air emergency in the city, Delhi University (DU) has decided to switch to online learning mode till November 23 while Jawaharlal Nehru University will conduct online classes till November 22.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Delhi’s Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Major Dhyan Chand Stadium and several other places touched the 500-mark at 5am on Tuesday, raising grave concerns about public health and safety. According to AQI classifications, a 0-50 range is considered “good,” 51-100 “satisfactory,” 101-200 “moderate,” 201-300 “poor,” 301-400 “very poor,” and 401-500 “severe”.

Delhi Air Pollution: 10 Points

• Several areas in Delhi, including Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, North Campus, Wazirpur and Mundka recorded 500 AQI at at 5am today, followed by RK Puram (499) and Dwarka sector-8 (498).
• In a notification, DU announced regular classes in “physical mode” will resume on November 25 while JNU said it would conduct all classes online till November 22. The schedule of exams and interviews, however, remains unchanged, the universities said.
• The Delhi government led by AAP described the air situation a “medical emergency” and asked institutions to take preventive measures in the interest of public health. The two major factors behind Delhi’s air pollution are weather conditions and stubble burning.
• The Delhi government announced the suspension of physical classes for Class 10 and 12 students, with all moving online starting tomorrow, November 19, 2024.
• The Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad administration have also ordered the suspension of physical classes till Class 12 in all schools. As per the order, studies will continue in online mode due to poor air quality.
• With the AQI hitting the ‘severe plus’ category choking Delhi, the Supreme Court on Monday directed all NCR states to immediately form teams to strictly implement anti-pollution Graded Response Action Plan- Stage 4 (GRAP) curbs, making it clear that the restriction will remain in place until further orders. The court asserted that it is the constitutional duty of all states to ensure all citizens live in a pollution-free environment.
• The apex court came down heavily on the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for “delaying” the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and said it followed a “wrong” approach.