Delhi NCR Pollution 2020: AQI crosses 400 after two days of relief

Due to stubble burning by farmers in many areas of Uttar Pradesh along with Punjab and Haryana, air pollution is becoming dangerous in Delhi-NCR. After 2 days of relief, the air quality level has once again crossed 400 in many areas of Delhi-NCR. According to data released by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, on Thursday, the air quality level is 401 in Anand Vihar, Delhi, 405 in Alipur and 410 in Wazirpur area. This is dangerous for health. 

Earlier on Tuesday, due to the high wind speed, there was some relief from pollution on Wednesday, but only in Delhi and Faridabad. The index of both these places fell below 300 and fell into the poor category. In other cities of NCR, it is running above 300 i.e. very poor category. Pollution is expected to increase again during the next two days.

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI stood at 297 on Wednesday. This level of air is placed in a poor range. In NCR, the air of all the cities except Faridabad was recorded in very poor category. Delhi’s PM 2.5 was 134 micrograms per cubic meter and PM10 level was 268 micrograms per cubic meter.

According to Saffar India under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, stubble smoke accounted for 18 percent of Delhi’s pollution on Wednesday. There were 1,830 incidents of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday.

According to the Meteorological Department, the wind direction was northwest and the speed was around 10 kilometers per hour on Wednesday. It is estimated that the wind speed will be slow on Thursday. In this case, the pollutants will not be removed and AQI may increase again. Safar India has also predicted to live in the Red Zone of Delhi NCR for the next two days.