Delhi Chokes: Air Quality Plummets to 'Very Poor'

Delhi's air quality significantly worsened on Friday, with the national capital's AQI reaching 324, firmly in the 'very poor' category. This deterioration occurred despite a notable decrease in pollution from farm fires, pointing to escalating local pollution sources such as vehicles and combustion. Thirty-one out of forty monitoring stations recorded 'very poor' levels, with RK Puram experiencing the highest pollution.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has predicted a cloudy sky with morning fog and cold wave conditions. The India Meteorological Department expects the minimum temperature to be around 5 degrees Celsius, with a slight drop in the maximum temperature. Prevailing northwest winds are anticipated to remain consistent throughout the day.

A recent assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals a worrying trend of worsening air quality in smaller NCR towns and a risk of reversing long-term gains in Delhi. The report emphasizes the growing toxicity from nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, urging a fundamental shift in infrastructure and systems to curb emissions from various sources.