Delhi Air Pollution: AQI touches 'hazardous' mark at 999 in Anand Vihar

The air quality in the national capital touched the ‘Hazardous’ level early on Wednesday morning. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 999 in the Anand Vihar area whereas the AQI in areas around the US Embassy in Chanakyapuri was 208 and 214 near Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, both in the ‘Unhealthy’ category.

#Delhi's Anand Vihar at 999 under 'Hazardous' category, area around US Embassy, Chanakyapuri at 208 & area around Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 214 under 'Unhealthy' category in Air Quality Index pic.twitter.com/Sa5OJTYQqp

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018

Delhi's Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday had directed all officers and agencies to be in “war mode” to combat air pollution. As parts of the Bhalswa landfill site continued to smoulder, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation announced a slew of measures that it will take for remediation of the over 60-metre high dump.

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Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Tuesday ruled that people in the country can burst firecrackers from 8 PM to 10 PM only on Diwali and other festivals, permitting the sale and manufacture of low emission “green” firecrackers countrywide.

Environment and health experts welcomed the order, with some describing it as a “spectacular” decision, while others saying it was time the society celebrated festive occasions “more responsibly”.

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The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the city’s overall AQI at 254 in the evening. An AQI (air quality index) between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.