National Desk
27 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
After a brief improvement, Delhi’s air quality declined again, falling into the ‘very poor’ category as wind speeds that previously helped disperse pollutants dropped to zero km/h. Dense fog blanketed the city in the early morning, reducing visibility, and residents reported difficulty breathing during outdoor activities. The minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 20.1 degrees Celsius, slightly above average for the season, with humidity levels reaching 93%.
Despite implementing the second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-2) to control pollution, residents of Delhi-NCR continue to suffer from worsening air quality. Vehicle emissions contribute nearly 14.8% of Delhi’s pollution, and agencies have struggled to control pollution sources effectively. Although there is a complete ban on the sale, storage, and use of firecrackers, sporadic firecracker use persists, and enforcement on Diwali is expected to be a significant challenge for agencies like the Delhi Police, Central Pollution Control Board, and Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
As Delhi prepares for the Diwali festival, pollution levels are predicted to worsen, further impacting respiratory health across the city. Local and central authorities face mounting pressure to implement stricter measures to combat the escalating crisis.