Delhi Air quality turns hazardous: AQI hits 494, several areas record severe pollution

Delhi woke up to hazardous air quality on Friday as the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 494 at 7.31 am, with dense fog and toxic pollution blanketing the national capital and reducing visibility across several areas. Several monitoring stations also recorded pollution levels in the severe category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), IIT Delhi was among the worst-affected locations, recording an AQI of 488. ITO followed with 455, while Anand Vihar recorded 419, Rohini 413, and Rajokri Border 402. All five locations fell in the severe category.

Other parts of the capital also reported very poor air quality. R K Puram recorded an AQI of 391, followed by Mandir Marg at 378, Dwarka Expressway at 369, Uttam Nagar at 363 and Lodhi Road at 341.

In comparison, the area around Dhaula Kuan recorded an AQI of 161, placing it in the moderate category.

Amid the worsening pollution, the Delhi government has stepped up its control measures, including deploying water sprinklers across the city to reduce particulate matter in the air.

Delhi Pollution: Saurabh Bharadwaj Questions CPCB AQI Data

The sharp deterioration in air quality comes amid a political row over pollution readings, with AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj accusing the BJP-led Delhi government and the CPCB of manipulating AQI data.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Bharadwaj cited a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), alleging that actual pollution levels were 49 per cent higher than the figures displayed on government websites.

"Today, many newspapers completely exposed the Delhi government and the Central Pollution Control Board. CREA showed that the pollution shown for Delhi was 49% higher than what you were told—meaning it was almost one and a half times higher," he said.

Explaining the alleged discrepancy, Bharadwaj claimed that an AQI reading of 370 could have actually been around 560 or higher.

He also questioned the CPCB's explanation regarding the limits of its monitoring system.

"The CPCB said that when our pollution level hits 999, we don't even consider that level, because we can't measure above 999 and we don't display 999. So it's just shown as zero," he alleged.

Accusing the authorities of putting public health at risk, Bharadwaj added, "So this fraud done with pollution wasn't just done with the numbers, but with the health of our kids, our elders, and the two crore people of Delhi."

CREA Report Flags Missing Pollution Data

Bharadwaj's allegations followed a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which examined hourly PM2.5 data from 59 monitoring stations across Delhi.

The report reportedly identified 255 missing hourly station records between 4 pm on November 8 and 4 pm on November 9.

It also recorded a rise in the 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration from 269 to 400 micrograms per cubic metre, marking an increase of nearly 49 per cent.

The findings have raised questions over the reliability of pollution monitoring data as Delhi continues to grapple with deteriorating air quality.

(With ANI inputs)