AQI closes near 500 mark, smog engulfs Capital
The air quality of the Capital further plunged by clocking an AQI of 494, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Monday. Dense smog engulfed the city throughout the day with poor visibility.
Due to low visibility, 28 trains were delayed, arriving and departing from New Delhi and Anand Vihar Railway stations by two to nine hours. Besides, 14 flights were also delayed.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena also ordered staggered office timings for all government employees until February 28, 2025.
Offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will work from 8.30 am to 5 pm and offices under the Delhi Government will run from 10 am to 6.30 pm.
The Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai aiming at the BJP-led Central Government, said it was the inaction and the refusal to take the responsibility.
“The entire North India has now fallen into the grip of severe pollution. Elderly people are facing difficulty in breathing and schools for children are being forced to close. People’s lives are being continuously impacted negatively by this,” he said.
Under the GRAP – IV restrictions, the entry of large trucks and BS-IV diesel vehicles has been banned, and all types of construction and demolition activities have been completely restricted. Only CNG, electric, BS-VI diesel and commercial vehicles providing essential goods and services will be exempted.
“All schools have been closed. The Health Department has been directed to form a special task force to ensure the treatment of pollution-related patients,” Rai added.
The minister held a review meeting with the officials concerned of the department. “Around mid-August, I wrote to the Union Environment Minister regarding the worsening situation. Now, with reduced wind speeds and thick smog over the region, we are witnessing the outcomes of inaction,” Rai had written to the Union Minister regarding conducting artificial rain to clear smog.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday has predicted dense to very dense fog conditions in the night and morning hours in parts of Northwest India till November 23. While fog will persist until November 24 in Delhi, the Capital will experience dense fog until November 21. Based on the intensity of the fog, the IMD has issued an orange alert for Tuesday, and yellow alerts for November 20 and November 21.
Delhi on Monday recorded its lowest daytime temperature of the season at 23.5°C, four notches below normal, according to the weather department.
University of Delhi moves to online classes
New Delhi: In response to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi and the NCR region, the University of Delhi has announced that online classes will be held for its students until November 23. The university said regular physical classes will resume from Monday (November 25). However, the university clarified that the schedule for examinations and interviews will remain unchanged, and those events will proceed as planned, regardless of the shift to online learning.
