New Delhi, October 21 (IANS). Just a day after Diwali celebrations, when firecrackers and festive smog filled the sky, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday reported worrying news of rapid deterioration in air quality across northern India.
According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin, air quality levels have been recorded as ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ in many cities of Haryana and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Jind topped with an air quality index of 421, followed by Dharuhera (412), Narnaul (390) and Rohtak (376). Other highly polluted cities include Bahadurgarh (368), Sirsa (353), Charkhi Dadri (353), Gurugram (370) and national capital Delhi (351), all of which are in the very poor category.
Data show that particulate matter PM2.5 remains the major pollutant in all these areas, causing air quality to reach hazardous levels.
Besides, Ghaziabad (324), Noida (320), Manesar (320) and Hapur (314) also recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, indicating a blanket of toxic smog blanketed the NCR.
Health experts say exposure to such conditions can lead to respiratory illnesses, especially in children, the elderly and people with asthma or heart disease.
Besides, air quality in southern cities like Bengaluru (97), Chennai (142) and Hyderabad (116) was recorded from ‘satisfactory’ to ‘moderate’, while coastal and northeastern cities like Mysore (41), Gangtok (34) and Shillong (17) remained in ‘good’ condition.
Earlier, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data in the morning, the overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR remained in the ‘very poor’ category, reaching 400, a day after Diwali. While the overall AQI stood at 347, levels were recorded in the ‘severe’ category in many areas.
AQI levels remained worrying in many areas of Delhi. Narela (354), Najafgarh (334), Mundka (357), Mandir Marg (325), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (358), Lodhi Road (334), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (317), Jahangirpuri (404), ITO (345), Dilshad Garden (346), Dwarka Sector 8 (333), Mathura Road. (341), Bawana (418), and Anand Vihar (352) recorded AQI at hazardous levels.
–IANS
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