New Delhi: Delhiites could see poison in the air on Sunday. A thick layer of toxic smog enveloped the capital, turning the city into a gas chamber with air quality plunging to ‘severe-plus’ category for the first time this year.
The city’s 24-hour average air quality index stood at 461, the second-worst recorded in Dec and the worst in nearly 13 months. Since the scale began in April 2015, only once has a higher AQI been recorded in Dec — 469 on Dec 21, 2017. For any month, the last time Delhiites a suffered worst AQI was on Nov 18 last year (494).
High moisture, low temperatures and calm winds effectively trapped pollution close to the surface even as a grey smog screened out the sun for most of the day. Winds are predicted to pick up slightly post-noon on Monday, which could disperse some pollutants.
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Priyangi Agarwal writes on environmental and climate change issue...
Read MorePriyangi Agarwal writes on environmental and climate change issues, connecting these topics to the everyday lives of people. She tracks developments across the capital’s transport hubs—Delhi Metro, Namo Bharat Trains, and Delhi Airport—while also reporting on pressing social issues. Her stories blend data analysis with voices from the ground to tell human-centred narratives. Previously stationed in western Uttar Pradesh, she focused her coverage on minority issues, health, and human rights.
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