Delhi-NCR Wakes Up To Thick Smog As Air Quality Slips Back Into 'Severe' Zone, AQI At 356

New Delhi: Thick smog continued to blanket Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday morning, with the capital witnessing a fresh deterioration in air quality as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 356, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Out of the 39 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, four reported AQI readings in the 'severe' category, while several others hovered close to the same range, underlining the persistence of hazardous air conditions across the city.

Visuals from different parts of Delhi and the NCR showed sharply reduced visibility as dense smog engulfed roads, residential areas and public spaces, affecting daily movement and raising health concerns among residents.

Data from the Commission for Air Quality Management's SAMEER app indicated that Delhi recorded an AQI of 358 at 7 a.m. on Thursday.

This marked a reversal from the marginal improvement seen a day earlier, when the AQI had eased to 334 from 354, aided by relatively stronger winds sweeping through the region.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast foggy conditions during the early hours of Thursday.

However, the weather agency also said that the presence of surface winds during the day was likely to prevent prolonged fog formation, allowing visibility to gradually improve as the day progresses.

According to the IMD, the predominant surface wind is expected to blow from the northwest at speeds of up to 10 kmph during the morning hours. Wind speeds are likely to increase to around 15 kmph from the northwest in the afternoon before decreasing to below 10 kmph from the west during the evening and night.

This fluctuation in wind patterns, the IMD said, is expected to help disperse the fog and contribute to relatively clearer conditions during daylight hours on Thursday, even as overall air quality remains a major concern.

Under the Delhi government's new measures to curb air pollution in the national capital, the 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule will come into force from Thursday.

Additionally, only BS-VI compliant vehicles registered outside Delhi will be allowed to enter the city from Thursday, while trucks carrying construction material will remain banned. Construction activity continues to be prohibited under GRAP norms, with strict action promised against violators.

The national capital continues to gasp under severe pollution, prompting the Delhi government to announce an expansive set of emergency and long-term measures targeting vehicular emissions, dust, waste and traffic congestion.

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