The ‘very poor’ air you breathed in Delhi this November. Delhi News – Times of India

This November has been named as the second most polluted last month in New Delhi on record, surpassing only November 2021. The city had an average air quality index of 375, with no days with an AQI below 300.

New Delhi: It is the second most polluted last month on record after November 2021. The average air quality index for November this year was 375 compared to 376 in November 2021.
It was also the first time in November that the AQI never dropped below 300 for the entire month, according to the data. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which started calculating the index in April 2015.
Delhiites saw eight ‘severe’ days this month, including two ‘severe plus’ days. With no respite from toxic pollution without rainfall, emissions from local and regional sources, along with climatic conditions, increased pollution levels.
The lowest AQI was 303, which was still in the ‘very poor’ category. The month also saw the AQI reach 494 on the 500 scale on November 18, making it the second most polluted day on record. In 10 days, the AQI was above 390.
“It is alarming that overall average PM2.5 levels for the winter months are now on the upswing,” said Anumita Raychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Center for Science and Environment. It is important to assess how the local and regional emissions are increasing, which requires much stricter action, not only in Delhi, but in the entire NCR And beyond.”
The average AQI in November last year was 373. It was 321 in 2022, 328 in 2020, 312 in 2019, 335 in 2018, 361 in 2017, 374 in 2016 and 358 in 2020.
Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB’s Aeronautical Laboratory, said, “Since no strong Western Disturbance affected the plains, there was no rainfall activity in November this year. As Delhi records negative weather during the winter months, attention should be paid to reducing emissions.”
The second most polluted November came after October 2024, which recorded the worst air quality since October 2020. Delhi’s average AQI was 231 this October, the highest since 2020, when it was 265. The average AQI was 219 last October, 210 in October 2022. 173 in October 2021, 234 in October 2019, 269 in October 2018, 285 in October 2017, 271 in October 2016, and 264 in October 2015.
CPCB defines AQI between 0 and 50 as ‘good’, between 51 and 100 as ‘satisfactory’, between 101 and 200 as ‘moderate’, between 201 and 300 as ‘poor’, between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor’. , and over 400 as ‘severe’.