Dense Smog Covers Delhi-NCR, Air Quality Hits Severe Levels, Flight Operations Disrupted
A thick blanket of smog enveloped Delhi and nearby regions, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, on Wednesday morning, causing significant disruption to flight operations.
Key Points:
- Flight Disruptions: Due to the severe smog, seven flights were diverted from Delhi’s airports—six to Jaipur and one to Lucknow—starting at 7 a.m.
- Air Quality Index (AQI): Delhi’s AQI reached the ‘Severe’ category, surpassing the 400 mark, while the AQI in Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad was classified as ‘Poor’. Faridabad’s AQI of 188 was in the ‘Moderate’ category.
- Visibility and Health Impact: Visibility was significantly reduced as the AQI in Delhi moved from ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Severe’ after two weeks. The unhealthy air quality is impacting daily life, with health advisories in place.
- Graded Response Action Plan: The second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan is active in Delhi, which includes measures like mechanical sweeping, water sprinkling on roads, and dust control at construction sites.
- Worsening Pollution Across Region: The Indo-Gangetic Plains remain heavily polluted, with cities from Bihar, Haryana, and Chandigarh ranking among the top 10 most polluted in India on Wednesday.
- International Concerns: In neighboring Pakistan, UNICEF has raised alarms over the health risks to 11 million children in the eastern Punjab province due to deteriorating air quality.
- AQI Classification: Air quality is categorized as follows:
- 0-50: Good
- 51-100: Satisfactory
- 101-200: Moderate
- 201-300: Poor
- 301-400: Very Poor
- 401-450: Severe
- Above 450: Severe Plus
