Delhi's Anand Vihar area recorded a PM10 level of 929 and PM2.5 level of 301 this morning. Highlights Delhi air quality plummets to "severe" level, heat worsens problem Pollution likely to last for next few days, people asked to stay indoors Construction activity banned, fire brigade asked to sprinkle water Residents have been there would be discomfort or breathing difficulties due to the pollution. As a thick blanket of haze and dust enveloped Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), the air quality nosedived to the "severe" level. The pollution masks are back and people have been advised to stay at home as the dusty conditions are likely to continue for the next few days. The PM10 level, presence of particles with diameter less than 10mm, was beyond severe at 796 in Delhi-NCR and 830 in Delhi particularly, leading to hazy conditions.An air quality index (AQI) between 0-50 is considered "Good", 51-100 "Satisfactory", 101-200 "Moderate", 201-300 "Poor", 301-400 "Very Poor", and 401-500 "Severe".For Delhi, which is reeling under scorching heat, it's a double whammy as the dust in the air isn't allowing the heat to escape. Among several measures taken to improve the air quality , all construction activities have been stopped, fire officials will sprinkle water and machines will sweep streets. "There will be strong dust raising winds throughout the day. This will continue on Friday as well," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.The breathlessness and the familiar burning of eyes and irritation in the throat have returned, and so were the attacks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and co. , who have been on a sit-in protest at Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal's home for the last four days. "Delhi is facing severe #pollution and dust particles are 18 times higher across the city and State and Central Govt representatives are sitting on "Dharna" in AC room. Where should the common man go?" asked a Twitter user.The toxic levels have prompted Mr Kejriwal to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for urgent intervention to stop the "strike" by IAS officers, so the issue could be addressed. He added that no meeting on pollution control could be held over the last three months due to their ongoing "strike".According to MeT department, the wind speed of 25-35 kilometres per hour has been predicted for the day. The humidity level was 49 per cent this morning and the maximum temperature is expected to be around 41 degrees Celsius.According to the CPCB, the AQI -- a measurement of the concentration of toxic particulate matter in the air -- at several places in Delhi remained beyond the 500-mark, with east Delhi's Anand Vihar area recording a PM10 level of 929 and PM2.5 level of 301 this morning.The air quality in Delhi deteriorated beyond the "severe" level because of a ground-level dust storm in western India which increased coarser particles in the air, the Central Pollution Control Board data showed.Experts suggest that the pollution in Delhi has been worse than the smog episode in November last year. The CPCB, however, said the pollution of this season was different from November last year when both PM2.5 and PM10 had spiked. The current increase in levels of pollution is mainly due to drastic increase in coarse particles in air which has caused a spike in PM10 level, it said.A Sudhakar, CPCB member-secretary, has warned residents that the pollution level is expected remain like this for at least three to four days and there could be discomfort or breathing difficulties due to the pollution.A report by the World Health Organisation last month said India was home to the world's 14 most polluted cities, with Delhi ranked sixth most polluted.Dust storm has also affected other north Indian cities as well. Flight operations have been suspended at the Chandigarh Airport due to poor visibility following dust storm. While an Air India flight between Mumbai and Chandigarh was stranded at Delhi airport due to a sandstorm in Chandigarh, budget airline SpiceJet said all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might get affected.Vistara and Jet Airways also informed passengers about delays due to bad weather.<doc-sep>Delhi weather: People are advised to remain indoors as the current situation is likely to cause discomfort or breathing difficulties. (Express Photo/File) Delhi weather: People are advised to remain indoors as the current situation is likely to cause discomfort or breathing difficulties. (Express Photo/File) In wake of the poor air quality in New Delhi due to incessant dust storms in western India, the state government on Thursday directed to put on hold all construction work till Sunday. For the third straight day on Thursday, the capital city recorded ‘severe’ levels of pollution. Dusty conditions, which are likely to continue through the weekend, also impacted visibility in Delhi-NCR. PM10 levels were at 796 at 8.30 this morning, reported news agency PTI. People have been advised to remain indoors as the current situation is likely to cause discomfort or breathing difficulties. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed construction companies, municipal corporations and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to ensure water sprinkling to help reduce local dust. Also read | Dust storm woes: Expect ‘severe’ air quality to continue The city, meanwhile, continues to reel under the scorching heat. The temperature this morning was 33 degrees Celsius, five notches above the season’s average. It is likely to peak at 41 degrees. On Wednesday, the minimum temperature was 34 degrees while the maximum was 41.2 degrees Celsius.<doc-sep>Delhi Air Pollution: The city has been enveloped with dust and haze for days now As air pollution rose to staggering levels in Delhi, a thick cover of haze, dust and winds have enveloped the city for the fourth consecutive day today. Visibility in the national capital has also remained poor with the capital city's citizens being given warnings of severe health risks of the outside environment and have been asked to stay indoors. The drastic dip in the air quality has prompted many to raise questions over the efficacy of the steps that the government is taking to combat pollution. Central Pollution Control Board or CPCB has asked for all construction activity to be stopped temporarily in the national capital region or NCR as Delhi and its neighbouring townships of Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. Here are the highlights on the weather in Delhi: Jun 15, 2018 21:37 (IST) The Delhi High Court gave an urgent hearing to plea on the "emergency-like air pollution situation" in the national capital and areas surrounding it and sought the response of the Delhi government and state pollution control committee on the measures taken to overcome it. A vacation bench comprising justices Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal and C Hari Shankar, which heard the matter late in the evening, issued notices to the Delhi government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) seeking their responses by July 25, the next date of hearing. The bench observed that since the petitioner has not filed any application seeking interim relief, it cannot "do anything except issuing a notice". The plea, which has been filed in wake of severe air pollution that has engulfed the national capital for the last couple of days, has also sought implementation of the odd-even scheme of using the vehicles. Jun 15, 2018 21:10 (IST) Lodhi Road, Ridge, Ayanagar and Palam recorded minimum temperatures of 32.8 degrees Celsius, 32.3 degrees Celsius, 32.4 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius, respectively. The maximum temperature in Lodhi Road settled at 40 degrees Celsius, 41.3 degrees Celsius in Ridge, 40.8 degrees Celsius in Ayanagar, 41.2 degrees Celsius in Palam. Delhi-NCR areas have been reeling under a haze of dust for the last few days owing to dust-laden winds. Jun 15, 2018 12:46 (IST) Lt Governor Anil Baijal held a meeting on air pollution on Thursday Held emergency meeting in view of severe dust pollution in Delhi with Hon Min @ImranHussaain & officials.Emergency measures like stoppage of all civil construction activities till 17th June.More monitoring by agencies like NHAI,DMRC, MCDs,PWD & NBCC etc. for ensuring compliance. pic.twitter.com/MvUOXumoJJ - LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 14, 2018 Massive afforestation drive from 15 July-15 Sept. across Delhi will be undertaken. Residents' participation is welcome. Information about procurement of saplings, identified areas for plantation activities etc. can be obtained from Forest Deptt, GNCTD. Green Delhi our common goal pic.twitter.com/wSHML1c9PU - LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 14, 2018 Jun 15, 2018 11:12 (IST) Cloud Of Dust Hangs Over Delhi, Construction Activities Halted A cloud of dust hung over vast swathes of north Indian plains for the third day today, prompting authorities to suspend civil construction works in Delhi and Haryana as part of emergency measures to improve air quality, besides affecting flight services at Chandigarh airport." itemprop="description A cloud of dust hung over vast swathes of north Indian plains for the third day today, prompting authorities to suspend civil construction works in Delhi and Haryana as part of emergency measures to improve air quality, besides affecting flight services at Chandigarh airport." itemprop="description Jun 15, 2018 11:04 (IST) Environment minister Dr Harsh Vardhan ays dust storm came from Rajasthan Amid deteriorating air quality in Delhi, Environment minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that pollution levels will go down in one or two days, according to weather department officials. He also said that PM10 levels will go down and likely be normal in one or two days as well.<doc-sep>Delhi weather: NCR region reels under severe air pollution NEW DELHI: Delhi's air quality remained severe for the fourth consecutive day, even as authorities expressed hope that the condition would improve with strong winds expected to clear the stagnant air.The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 mm) was recorded at 754 in Delhi-NCR and 801 in Delhi, leading to hazy conditions.The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) that deteriorated from 'very poor' to 'severe' showed improvement on Friday at 184 in Delhi region and 175 in Delhi NCR, said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.On Thursday, the PM2.5 level in Delhi-NCR was at 268 and Delhi at 277.According to the CPCB, the air quality index (AQI), a measurement of the concentration of toxic particulate matter in air, at several places in Delhi remained over 500.An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe.As the national capital region struggles with a severe dust pollution, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had on Thursday ordered stoppage of all civil construction activities across the city till Sunday as part of the emergency measures which also include intensifying mechanical road sweeping.Strong winds are expected to clear the air, said Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR). "The air quality is expected to improve and clear the stagnated dusty air that has primarily led to the rise in the pollution level," he said.The India Meteorological Department said that the strong winds are expected to continue over the region. "Strong dust raising winds of the order of 25-35 kmph likely to continue over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh during next 24 hours," the IMD said.It also predicted thunderstorms at isolated places over the city in the coming days, bringing relief from the dusty air. "Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds and lightning very likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi , Rajasthan, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and north coastal Tamilnadu," it said.<doc-sep>
Delhi air quality fell sharply this week, prompting the return of pollution masks on the city's streets. As Delhi struggled to breathe in air that remained in the "severe" levels of pollution for the third straight day, the government brought in a number of measures to tackle the crisis. A thick haze of dust and smoke hung over large parts of Delhi and authorities warned the conditions are likely to prevail for another three to four days, advising people to avoid staying outdoors for long hours.The Central Pollution Control Board or CPCB has asked for all construction activity to be stopped in the national capital region or NCR as Delhi and its neighbouring townships of Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Faridabad are known.The authority also ordered stone crushing to be stopped with immediate effect in all areas as well.The fire brigade has been asked to sprinkle water across Delhi to bring down the dust and particulate matter suspended in the air.It has also asked municipal corporation to bring in road sweeping machines to keep the dust off the streets.The air quality in Delhi deteriorated because of dust storms in western India, particularly Rajasthan, which increased coarser particles in the air, the CPCB said.The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 mm) was beyond severe at 796 in Delhi-NCR and 830 in Delhi particularly, leading to hazy conditions.According to the CPCB, the air quality index - a measurement of the concentration of toxic particulate matter in the air - at several places in Delhi remained beyond the 500-mark, with east Delhi's Anand Vihar area recording a PM10 level of 929 and PM2.5 level of 301 this morning. An AQI between 0-50 is considered "Good", 51-100 "Satisfactory", 101-200 "Moderate", 201-300 "Poor", 301-400 "Very Poor", and 401-500 "Severe".The wind blowing in the region has contributed to the spread of dust particles . According to the Met department, wind speed reaching up to 35 kmph is predicted for today in Delhi. The dust-laden winds have created a haze in Delhi-NCR since yesterday.