Delhi air pollution: ‘Severe’ or ‘very poor’ – what’s AQI today? Centre announces staggered timings for staff | Updates | Latest News India

Delhi AQI today: The residents of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and other places in the national capital region woke up to a hazy morning with a minimum temperature of 11.3 degrees Celsius as the air quality remained in the “very poor” category recording an overall air quality index of 373 on Friday, November 22.

Out of 38 monitoring stations in the city, nine reported AQI readings in the “severe” range.

These stations are Anand Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Nehru Nagar, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Vivek Vihar, and Wazirpur, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

An AQI of 400 or higher is classified as “severe” and poses significant health risks.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday announced staggered working hours for its employees in Delhi to aid the fight against pollution as the city reeled under “very poor” air quality even though the AQI fell below the 400-mark after several days.

The 24-hour average Air Quality Index, recorded daily at 4pm, stood at 371 on Thursday, showing an improvement from 419 on Wednesday due to increased wind speeds, according to data from the CPCB.

However, Delhi still ranked as the second most polluted city in the country, only behind Bihar’s Hajipur (AQI 403).

While Delhi’s AQI was the worst in the country on Monday and Tuesday, with readings exceeding 450 in the “severe plus” category, it recorded the third-worst ranking on Wednesday before moving to the second place on Thursday.

Staggered working hours for govt employees

• According to an order issued by the Union personnel ministry, employees have been advised carpooling and use of public transport to minimise vehicular pollution. “Offices can operate from 9am to 5.30pm or from 10am to 6.30pm,” the order stated.
• These measures may be adopted by ministries, departments, and organisations based on their functional requirements, ensuring that there is no adverse impact on efficiency and productivity,” the order further added.
• Bihar’s Hajipur recorded the highest AQI in the country on Thursday, with a reading of 403 in the “severe” category, followed by Delhi at 371, according to the CPCB’s 24-hour data.