NEW DELHI, Dec 13— A dense layer of smog enveloped the national capital on Saturday as air quality deteriorated sharply, with several monitoring stations recording “severe” pollution levels and overall conditions nearing that category, official data showed.
Delhi’s average Air Quality Index stood at 397 on Saturday morning, placing it at the upper end of the “very poor” category and just short of “severe,” according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Of the total monitoring stations across the city, 21 recorded AQI levels above 400, falling in the “severe” category. Wazirpur emerged as the most polluted area with an AQI of 445, followed by Vivek Vihar at 444 and Jahangirpuri at 442, CPCB data showed.
High pollution levels were also reported from Anand Vihar at 439, while Ashok Vihar and Rohini recorded AQI readings of 437 each. Narela logged 432, Pratapganj 431 and Mundka 430, the data showed.
Several other areas also crossed the 420 mark, including Bawana, ITO and Nehru Nagar at 429 each, Chandni Chowk and Punjabi Bagh at 423, and Siri Fort and Sonia Vihar at 424.
Burari Crossing recorded an AQI of 414, while Karni Singh Shooting Range reported 409. North Campus and RK Puram stood at 408 each, and Okhla Phase 2 registered 404.
An AQI reading between 401 and 500 is classified as “severe,” posing serious health risks even to healthy individuals, while levels between 301 and 400 are considered “very poor,” according to CPCB standards.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has cautioned that pollution levels are likely to remain in the “very poor” category through Saturday and may worsen further on Sunday. “Air quality is expected to deteriorate, with a possibility of entering the ‘severe’ category,” it said in its forecast.
Authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activities, particularly children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments, as pollution levels remain high across the capital.
