Smog blankets Rajpath lawns on R-Day

Delhi's day out at the Rajpath lawns to celebrate the 67th Republic Day was veiled by its characteristic smog and 'very poor' air quality.
The average levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10, fine respirable particulates, were 187 and 298 micro-grams per cubic metre (ug/m3). The corresponding safe Indian standards are 60 and 100.
Real-time readings of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) stations put PM pollution multiples times above the safe limits. At Punjabi Bagh, PM 2.5 and PM 10 were at 440 and 705 at 3.30 PM.
According to monitoring agency System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), 'very poor' quality air triggers health alert as people may experience serious health effects.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) displayed 'severe' quality index of air across the stations located in places such as Mandir Marg, R K Puram, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh with PM 2.5 being the most prominent pollutant.
PM 2.5 which measures less than 2.5 microns, a product of vehicle emissions, burning of waste, industrial plumes, is considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the best indicator of the level of health risks from air pollution.
Air quality is considered 'very poor' by Indian authorities when level of PM 2.5 ranges from 120 to 250 ug/m3. It is 'severe' when PM 2.5 and PM 10 cross 253, 421 ug/m3 respectively.

The situation was better last year when it had rained on the morning of the parade, officials said.