Taking stock: Delhi's air stays toxic for a second consecutive day

Residents of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) continued to breathe toxic air for the second day running on Wednesday (October 22), with the average air quality index (AQI) for the last 24 staying ‘very poor’. At 1600 hours, the AQI was recorded at 353 for the national capital. Only Gurugram saw a slight improvement, with its air quality moving to the ‘poor’ category (at 280)  from ‘very poor’ (at 370) on Tuesday. 

 

The region has witnessed a spike in air pollution levels following incessant cracker burning on Diwali night (October 20). The PM 2.5 levels remained at seriously high levels on October 22 as well.  

 

Among major metros, Mumbai and Kolkata saw slight improvements in their AQI levels, while Chennai moved into the ‘satisfactory’ category from ‘moderate’ the previous day on account of rainfall. 

 

Meanwhile, incidents of stubble burning (a major contributor to the pollution levels in several north Indian cities) have also risen in the last 10 days in states like Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.