StatesDelhi
Delhi wakes to 'poor' air at AQI 214 as winter curbs begin; rest of NCR stays 'moderate'
The capital was the only city in the National Capital Region in the 'poor' band at 7 am on Sunday, the first day of its new pollution restrictions. Khanna in Punjab had the country's worst air.
Key points
- Delhi's air quality index stood at 214 at 7 am, in the 'poor' category.
- Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram were 'moderate', and Faridabad 'satisfactory' at 95.
- Khanna in Punjab, at 320, was the most polluted city in the country.
Delhi woke up to ‘poor’ air on Sunday, with an air quality index of 214 at 7 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. It was the only city in the National Capital Region in that band, on the morning the capital’s new winter pollution curbs took effect.
The neighbouring cities fared a little better. Noida stood at 200, at the top of the ‘moderate’ range, with Ghaziabad at 194, Greater Noida at 181 and Gurugram at 153. Faridabad, at 95, was in the ‘satisfactory’ category.
The board’s scale counts 201 to 300 as ‘poor’, a level that can cause breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure. Readings from 301 to 400 are ‘very poor’ and above 400 ‘severe’.
Across the country, the worst air was in Khanna in Punjab, at 320, the only city in the ‘very poor’ range. Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh followed at 300, then Kaithal at 274 and Ambala at 257, both in Haryana, and Gajraula in Uttar Pradesh at 253. The cleanest air was in Gangtok, at 15, and Aizawl, at 17.
From Sunday, vehicles registered outside Delhi that meet BS-IV standards or older cannot enter the city until 31 January, offices work at half their physical strength and parking charges at authorised lots are doubled. The measures are meant to hold the line through the worst of the winter smog season.