Delhiites continue to suffer as Air Quality Index drops to 423; know AQI of world's top 10 cities

Delhiites continued to suffer for yet another day as air quality turned 'severe' again on Sunday, prompting authorities to extend the ban on construction and trucks entry in the national capital till November 12.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 423 on Sunday morning. The AQI between 401 and 500 comes under the ‘severe’ category.

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The level of major pollutant PM 2.5 – the Nanoparticles in the air – was recorded at 290, while the PM 10 was recorded at 465, which again falls under the ‘severe’ category.

Earlier on Saturday morning, the pollution level in the national capital had dipped marginally with the overall AQI at 394 but it again dropped to “severe category” by the evening and the AQI stood at 403.

In wake of no respite from the pollution, the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) has extended the ban on the construction and the entry of trucks into the national capital till November 12.

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"It was observed that PM2.5 concentrations have been exceeding 300 µg/m3. As such the 'severe +' situation has continued for 37 hrs. Therefore, the task force recommends that ban on construction activities, industries using coal and biomass and entry of trucks, which are in force, should continue till November 12, 2018," the CPCB recommended to the EPCA.

Comparison of Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) with the world’s top 10 cities:

1. New York: 35 (Good)
2. Beijing: 89 (Moderate)
3. London: 44 (Good)
4. HongKong: 68 (Moderate)
5. Sydney: 28 (Good)
6. Kuala Lumpur: 55 (Moderate)
7. Paris: 39 (Good)
8. Moscow: 55 (Moderate)
9. Milan: 59 (Moderate)
10. Tokyo: 61 (Moderate)