Delhi continues to be engulfed in thick smog for the third consecutive day on Monday, as residents continue to succumb to its volume. Air pollution in the NCR region has remained severe and reached its Worst levels in the past few days.
The government data confirms that the AQI on Monday was 471, one of the worst in the world. Any index above 300 is considered “hazardous”. While anything under 50 is classified as healthy. The highest level of restriction was imposed by the government on Sunday, as it completely halted the movement of all older vehicles in the region and banned all construction activities.
Schools in the capital are running in hybrid Mode as the condition becomes worse. The among became so intense that it interrupted the movement of trains and air transport in the region. This led to the cancellation of 40 flights and the delay of several others. The authorities of Delhi Airport have informed passengers of delays and disruptions due to the heavy smog.
As air quality improved in the afternoon, some flights were resumed, but the conditions remained worse than normal. The PTI reported that due to lower visibility, at least two people were killed in a road accident on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway.
The situation has also affected international travel, as governments from the UK, Singapore, and Canada warned their citizens of the worsening pollution crisis in New Delhi. Despite the imposition of GRAP, the residents saw no relief as pollutants were trapped, making the crisis worse. Singapore warned its citizens that the smog might cause delays, while the government of the United Kingdom has asked pregnant women and people with respiratory diseases to consult doctors before travelling to New Delhi.
The levels of AQI remained worse, with the index reaching ‘severe’ to ‘severe plus. The reading at Jahangirpuri showed an AI close to 500, as users on social media complained of the city turning into a gas-chamber.
