Delhi’s air quality has reached the ‘severe’ category for the first time this season. On Wednesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city soared to 418, a very harmful level. This high AQI means the air is extremely polluted and can be dangerous to health, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory problems.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that 30 out of 36 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi showed ‘severe’ pollution levels. On Tuesday, the AQI was slightly lower but still unhealthy, reaching 334. This level of pollution is considered ‘very poor,’ which can affect everyone, not just those with pre-existing health conditions.

The CPCB uses a system to classify air quality based on AQI numbers. Here’s what the levels mean:

• 0-50: Good
• 51-100: Satisfactory
• 101-200: Moderate
• 201-300: Poor
• 301-400: Very Poor
• Above 400: Severe

At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Delhi’s air quality was still ‘very poor’ with an AQI of 366. Along with the bad air quality, a thick fog covered the city, causing very low visibility, especially at the Delhi airport. Calm winds made the fog and pollution stay in the air for a longer time, making it worse.

The temperature in Delhi dropped to 17°C (63°F) on Wednesday morning from 17.9°C (64°F) on Tuesday. The weather department, IMD, said that temperatures may fall even further because the smog is blocking sunlight.

Delhi faces severe air pollution every winter. This happens because the cold weather causes dust, smoke, and pollution to stay trapped in the air. Much of the pollution comes from nearby states like Punjab and Haryana, where farmers burn crop stubble. These fires add to the smoke in the air and worsen pollution in Delhi.

In response to the dangerous air quality, the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called on the Delhi government to close all schools up to Class 5. They are concerned about the health of children and want action taken to protect them from the harmful effects of polluted air.

The BJP also criticized the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying that the government had failed to control the pollution, turning Delhi into a “gas chamber.” BJP president Virendra Sachdeva urged the government to take more steps to address the alarming air quality levels.

With the city’s pollution levels at a record high, it’s clear that urgent measures are needed to protect the health of Delhi’s residents, especially the vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

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