Smog Covers New Delhi: Air Quality Deteriorates After Diwali
New Delhi, the capital of India, is experiencing a thick layer of smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching concerning levels. On Saturday morning, the AQI was recorded at 296, indicating poor air quality. Specific areas like Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 380, categorized as very poor, while ITO had a poor AQI of 253. Other areas such as RK Puram, IGI Airport T3, and Dwarka Sector 8 also showed very poor air quality, with AQI readings of 346, 342, and 308, respectively.
Residents, especially cyclists near India Gate, expressed difficulties in breathing during physical activities due to the pollution. One cyclist mentioned that while walking might not feel different, activities like cycling or jogging make it hard to breathe. Another cyclist warned that pollution levels are expected to rise further in the coming days, with no relief in sight.
The day after Diwali, the city’s air quality was already in the ‘very poor’ category, with most areas recording an AQI over 350. Anand Vihar had an AQI of 395, Aya Nagar 352, Jahangirpuri 390, and Dwarka 376, all posing significant health risks to the residents.
Doubts Revealed
Smog -: Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like a thick fog. It is made up of smoke and other pollutants in the air, which can make it hard to breathe.
New Delhi -: New Delhi is the capital city of India. It is a big city with many people, and sometimes it has problems with air pollution.
Air Quality Index (AQI) -: The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a number that tells us how clean or polluted the air is. A higher number means the air is more polluted and can be harmful to our health.
Diwali -: Diwali is a popular festival in India, also known as the Festival of Lights. People celebrate it with fireworks, which can sometimes cause air pollution.
Anand Vihar -: Anand Vihar is a neighborhood in New Delhi. It is one of the places where the air quality was very poor after Diwali.
ITO -: ITO is an area in New Delhi known for its busy roads and offices. It also experienced poor air quality after Diwali.
India Gate -: India Gate is a famous monument in New Delhi. It is a popular place for people to visit and exercise, but the air pollution made it hard for cyclists to breathe there.
Cyclists -: Cyclists are people who ride bicycles. They can have trouble breathing when the air is polluted, especially during physical activities.
Anand Vihar, Aya Nagar, Jahangirpuri, Dwarka -: These are different areas in New Delhi. They all reported very poor air quality after Diwali, which means the air was not safe to breathe.
