Capital chokes as AQI level hits max limit

The air quality index (AQI) at least three of Delhi's stations maxed out at the 500-mark at various times on Sunday as all of 38 of the 39 active monitoring stations in the Capital hovered in the ‘severe’ and ‘severe-plus’ categories.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok and Gargi Shukla

The Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) at the Wazirpur, Rohini, and Ashok Vihar stations reached 500. The CPCB’s AQI readings do not go beyond 500 ~ meaning the actual exposure, particlarly hourly readings - would be much higher.

Among the other stations, at least 13 stations saw AQI levels hovering above 490 for several hours on Sunday, with several locations nearly maxing out.

Among the worst affected areas were Jahangirpuri and Mundka — both recording an AQI of 499, Bawana (498), Delhi Technical University (497), Vivek Vihar (497), Narela (493), Anand Vihar (492), IHBAS in Dilshad Garden (491) and Okhla Phase-2 (490).

The best AQI of Sunday was recorded at Shadipur at a dismal 375 in the “very poor” zone.

As per the CPCB’s guidelines, an AQI of 51 to 100 is classified as “satisfactory”, and between 101 and 200 is classified as “moderate”, between 201 and 300 is “poor”, between 301 and 400 is “very poor”, and over 400 is “severe”.

Residents from these heavily impacted areas said the air looked like dense fog and it was difficult to even breathe outdoors.