air pollution

Dense smog engulfs Delhi as air quality nears ‘severe’ category; AQI breaches 300 mark

Dense smog engulfs Delhi as air quality nears ‘severe’ category; AQI breaches 300 mark

National Times Bureau :- Air quality in the national capital continues to be hazardous, posing serious health risks to residents. On Sunday, Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 391, close to the ‘severe’ category, while several locations recorded levels above 400, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed. Dense smog and fog have trapped pollutants in the air, sharply reducing visibility and disrupting daily routines as residents grapple with cold weather conditions. Among the worst-affected areas, Anand Vihar and Shadipur reported AQI levels of 445 each, followed by Nehru Nagar at 433, Patparganj at 425, Mundka at…
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Thick smog engulfs Delhi as air quality turns ‘severe’, AQI soared to 413

Thick smog engulfs Delhi as air quality turns ‘severe’, AQI soared to 413

National Times Bureau :- Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded 'hazardous' on Tuesday morning, significantly impairing visibility and affecting residents. The AQI reading soared to 413 at around 8 am.According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality spiked to 'severe' levels in certain areas of the National Capital Region (NCR). Multiple parts of the city continued to witness alarmingly high pollution levels.CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) has invoked all actions under GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR.Several pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar (466), Chandni Chowk (425), and Ashok Vihar (444), also falling under the 'severe' category across…
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Delhi enforces 50% work from home as air quality slips to ‘severe plus’; violators face penalties

Delhi enforces 50% work from home as air quality slips to ‘severe plus’; violators face penalties

National Times Bureau :- As toxic smog engulfed the national capital, the Delhi Government has directed all offices, government as well as private, to operate with at least 50 per cent of their staff working from home. Authorities have cautioned that strict action, including fines, will be taken against organisations that fail to comply with the order. Delhi recorded one of its worst air quality readings of the season on December 15, when the Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 498, placing it firmly in the ‘severe plus’ category. This marked a further decline from the previous day, when pollution levels…
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Smog chokes Delhi as AQI climbs to 333; city shivers through coldest morning of season

Smog chokes Delhi as AQI climbs to 333; city shivers through coldest morning of season

National Times Bureau :- A thick layer of smog once again engulfed the national capital on Saturday, pushing Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) to 333,  firmly within the ‘very poor’ zone and slightly worse than the previous day,  even as residents continued to battle biting cold conditions. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Friday marked the coldest December morning of the year so far, with temperatures sliding to 5.6°C. Among all monitoring locations, Mundka emerged as the most polluted area with an AQI of 381 at 7 am, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) readings. Out of Delhi’s…
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Top Court to revisit Delhi–NCR pollution crisis as air quality worsens

Top Court to revisit Delhi–NCR pollution crisis as air quality worsens

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court has decided to once again turn its attention to the persistent air pollution crisis in the Delhi–NCR region, listing a key plea for hearing on December 3. The court said on Thursday that the issue cannot be handled through one-time intervention and needs continuous, expert-based monitoring. The matter was mentioned before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi by senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who assists the court as amicus curiae. Singh informed the Bench that the spike in pollution levels has reached a worrying threshold, describing the situation…
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Delhi Air Pollution Remains Hazardous, AQI at 385 on Sunday

Delhi Air Pollution Remains Hazardous, AQI at 385 on Sunday

NEW DELHI (Rajeev Sharma): The national capital continued to grapple with unhealthy air conditions on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 385, placing Delhi in the “very poor” category, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported. According to the CPCB’s Sameer app, 18 monitoring stations across the city showed air quality in the “severe” range, while 20 locations reported “very poor” levels, indicating persistent high pollution concentrations in several parts of the city. CPCB standards classify AQI as: 0–50: Good 51–100: Satisfactory 101–200: Moderate 201–300: Poor 301–400: Very Poor 401–500: Severe The weather conditions have contributed to…
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Delhi Chokes Again: Air Quality Deteriorates Further, AQI Crosses 400 Mark for Third Straight Day

Delhi Chokes Again: Air Quality Deteriorates Further, AQI Crosses 400 Mark for Third Straight Day

National Times Bureau :- Despite multiple restrictions and pollution-control measures, Delhi continues to reel under toxic air. For the third consecutive day, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “severe” category, touching an average of 405 on Wednesday. Several areas, including Punjabi Bagh (428), Wazirpur (452), Anand Vihar (445), ITO (431), and IGI Airport (460), recorded AQI levels well above the danger mark. Nearby regions such as Noida (391), Greater Noida (376), Ghaziabad (369), and Gurugram (332) also reported “very poor” to “severe” air quality levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall AQI saw…
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Thick Smog Returns to Delhi — Air Quality Deteriorates to ‘Very Poor’ as Stubble Burning Intensifies

Thick Smog Returns to Delhi — Air Quality Deteriorates to ‘Very Poor’ as Stubble Burning Intensifies

National Times Bureau :- A thick layer of smog covered Delhi on Friday morning, pushing the city’s air quality back into the “very poor” category after two days of slight improvement. By 6 am, the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 311, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The air was especially bad in central and north Delhi, with AQI readings of 334 at ITO and 333 in Narela. In Chandni Chowk, the AQI touched 350, while at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, it was 290, falling in the “poor” range. Visuals from Anand Vihar, shared by…
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Delhi Urges Hold on Fuel Ban for Overage Vehicles, Cites Tech and Enforcement Hurdles

Delhi Urges Hold on Fuel Ban for Overage Vehicles, Cites Tech and Enforcement Hurdles

New Delhi, July 3: The Delhi government has formally urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to suspend the fuel ban on overage vehicles, citing significant technological and logistical challenges in its implementation. The appeal comes just days after the ban, targeting diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, took effect on July 1 under court orders.Addressing reporters on Thursday, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government stands with citizens who are distressed over the restrictions and is seeking an alternative approach. “We are trying to ensure that vehicles are not…
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