Delhi’s air quality plunges to its worst level this season

Delhi's air quality took a turn for the worse on Monday as doctors warned of health risks and people complained of itchy and watery eyes due to a dense layer of smog enveloping India’s capital city of over two crores.

The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 484, the worst this season, at 8 am on Monday. By 2 pm, the AQI worsened further and it was recorded at 491, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Data from 37 out of 40 monitoring stations revealed that four stations — Dwarka Sector 8, Najafgarh, Nehru Nagar and Mundka — reported AQI levels at the maximum of 500.

As the city's air quality is in the "severe plus" category, doctors have warned of health risks for all.

"At this level of pollution, wearing an N95 mask is a necessity. Even healthy individuals can face respiratory illnesses and other health complications," said Dr Rajat Sharma, resident doctor of Community Medicine at Guru Teg Bahdur Hospital.

Ujjwal Parakh, senior consultant, Department of Chest Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, asked the people to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible and use masks to reduce the effects of air pollution if they must go out."

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Delhi government over the delay in implementation of stricter anti-pollution measures.

Addressing a press conference, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi alleged the BJP-led central government has been doing politics over the issue of pollution but has taken no step to check stubble burning in neighboring states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh ruled by the saffron party.

Lauding the AAP-ruled Punjab, she said it is the only state where the cases of stubble burning have come down significantly. In BJP-ruled states, they have gone up, she claimed.

As Delhi's air quality worsened to the "Severe Plus" category, tighter pollution control measures came into effect on Monday morning, including a ban on truck entry and the suspension of construction activities at public projects.

There has been a rise in the sale of air purifiers.

All construction activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and other public projects, have been suspended.

The Delhi government asked all schools to discontinue physical classes for all students, except those in classes 10 and 12, from Monday.

Dense toxic smog caused visibility to drop sharply in the morning. According to officials, visibility at Safdarjung airport was 150 metres.