City's 'severe' pollution crisis refuses to abate

Delhi's pollution aggravated into the deep-red severe zone for the first time since November 17 on Friday, evidenced by another round of watery eyes, itchy throats and nausea, as residents of the city stared at another battle with an air emergency, even though farm fires in upwind states have started to dwindle.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

The Capital clocked a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 415 at 4pm on Friday, significantly worse than 390 a day ago, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It was Delhi's ninth severe air day so far this month.

This rise has been wrought largely by local emissions, including vehicular emissions and dust from construction work, exacerbated by nearly still winds and dipping temperatures. Delhi clocked a minimum temperature of 9.4°C on Friday, only marginally higher than Thursday's 9.2°C, and the second straight day the city's mercury has stayed below 10°C.

Scientists with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the pollution is likely to give way marginally over the weekend, when winds are expected to get stronger and blow in from the east (instead of the northwest).

Further, Delhi may also get some rain on Monday, said IMD, owing to a western disturbance that will bring showers to Rajasthan and southern Haryana on Saturday and Sunday.

The latest downturn in Delhi's air quality not only brought on the city a fresh round of health concerns, but also underscores the stickiness of the pollution problem. Pollution levels have been inching up for the past few days despite a steady downturn in the number of farm fires in Punjab, where most farmers have cleared out their paddy fields.