Delhi’s air was not even breathable


New Delhi: For the next five days, there is no relief from the wrath of pollution in the capital Delhi. With the slowing down of wind speed, fog will add to the problem of pollution. During this time the wind is likely to remain in the severe or very poor category. The people of Delhi are forced to breathe poisonous air filled with pollution for nine consecutive days.

There has not been a single day since Diwali when the air quality level is breathable. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index of Delhi remained in the severe category at 437 points on Saturday. However, it has improved by 34 points as compared to Friday. The index was at 471 points on Friday.

On Saturday, due to the increase in wind speed, the speed of the flow of pollutant particles has increased slightly. Despite this, the air quality is in the severe category. The Meteorological Department has forecast that light to moderate fog may be seen in the morning hours for the next five days. During this time the wind speed is also expected to slow down. Sluggish air and fog can add to the problem of pollution. Due to both these factors, Delhi does not seem to be getting relief from deadly pollution at the moment.

The people of Delhi are currently breathing four and a half times more polluted air than the norm. According to the CPCB, the amount of pollutant particulate PM-10 in the air at 5 pm on Saturday was 457 micrograms per cubic meter and the amount of PM-2.5 particles was 284 micrograms per cubic meter. According to the standards, it is considered good for health only when the amount of PM-10 is below 100 and the amount of PM-2.5 is below 60. According to this, there is more than four and a half times more pollution in the air of Delhi.
Delhi’s air has reached emergency for the second time in 10 days. If PM-10 level is more than 500 and PM-2.5 level is above 300 it is considered as severe plus or emergency. From one o’clock on November 12 to three o’clock on November 13, Delhi’s air was in this condition. The air quality improved slightly during the day with slight increase in wind speed. Earlier on November 5, after Diwali, the condition of pollutant particles in the air had reached this level.
For the second consecutive day, the share of pollution caused by stubble smoke in Delhi’s air remained above 30 per cent. The share of pollution due to stubble smoke in Delhi’s air on Saturday stood at 31 per cent. This share was 35 per cent a day earlier i.e. on Friday. According to the survey, 3157 incidents of stubble burning have been registered in the fields of Punjab and Haryana.

longest dragging pollution
This time the time of severe pollution in Delhi’s air is stretching for the longest time. Saturday is the ninth day the air quality is in the severe or very poor category. Out of these nine days, seven days the Air Quality Index has been above the 400 mark i.e. in the severe category.

share of stubble smoke in the air
05 November 36 per cent 06 November 41 per cent 07 November 48 per cent 08 November 30 per cent 09 November 27 per cent 10 November 27 per cent 11 November 26 per cent 12 November 35 per cent 13 November 31 per cent

nine days of horrific pollution

05 November 462 06 November 434 07 November 428 08 November 390 09 November 404 10 November 372 11 November 411 12 November 471 13 November 437