Delhi pollution: Air quality ‘severe’ in several areas. Check out HT’s index

The hazardous smog engulfing the national capital since Diwali lingered on Friday, as the overall air quality oscillated between ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ categories.

The 24-hour-average of PM 2.5 was 225 µg/m³ (safety limit - 100 µg/m³) and PM 10 was 389 µg/m³ (safety limit - 60µg/m³) as per SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) at 6pm.

Air quality is rated by Air Quality Index within a range of 0 (good) to 500 (severe).

At 8pm on Friday, out of 13 places in Delhi where Hindustan Times monitors air pollution, six places -- Connaught Place, Punjabi Bagh, Shantipath, Anand Vihar, Sirifort and RK Puram -- reported an AQI of 500 -- the maximum possible rating of ‘severe’.

Lodhi colony (366) and Shadipur (321) reported ‘very poor’ air quality.

Only one of those spots reported ‘satisfactory’ air quality – east Arjun Nagar with 55.

Here is a screen grab from HT’s air pollution map taken at 8pm on Friday.

On Friday, the National Green Tribunal, the country’s top green body, slammed the Centre and Delhi government for “shifting blame” and not taking proper steps to tackle the alarming air pollution levels in the national capital.

Terming the situation akin to that of an “emergency”, the tribunal observed that the Centre, Delhi government and other authorities were “not bothered” about the rising air pollution level and its consequence on the health of citizens of Delhi.

The Centre for Science and Environment on Friday said Delhi is witnessing the worst spell of smog in 17 years.

Take a look at our real-time air quality map to see the latest pollution levels in different parts of the country.

(with inputs from PTI)