Delhi in September vs October: National Capital Engulfed in Thick Smog Brings Back Yearly Air Quality Woes

The air quality in Delhi has plummeted into the “very poor” category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385 recorded on Tuesday morning. A thick layer of smog has enveloped the national capital, making it difficult for residents to breathe. The worsening air quality is attributed to a combination of factors, including stubble burning, weather conditions, and the union territory’s geographical location. Amid these concerns, a Delhi resident shared two striking photos that highlight the severity of the ongoing air quality crisis.

“Both pictures were taken exactly one month apart from the same spot around the same time of the day. Is there seriously no solution to it?” reads the caption to the picture shared on Reddit’s “Delhi” community by the user “khanzadaah”.

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The photos were taken on September 22 and October 21 respectively from Abul Fazal Enclave in Okhla overlooking Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Yamuna River and Noida skyline.

Take a look at the pictures taken a month apart in Delhi below:

As per a website that tracks air quality, the AQI in Delhi was recorded at 168 on September 22, which worsened to 287 by October 21. The only respite came on September 28, when the AQI dropped to a favorable 37, the only day the air quality was deemed “good”.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 as “moderate”, 201 and 300 as “poor”, 301 and 400 as “very poor”, 401 and 450 as “severe” and any reading above 450 falls into the “severe plus” category.

In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II) across Delhi-NCR after the AQI fell into the “very poor” category.

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“As per the dynamic model and forecasts for weather/meteorological conditions and air quality provided by IMD/IITM, there is a likelihood of the daily average AQI of Delhi remaining in the ‘very poor’ category (AQI 301-400) in the coming days due to the unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions,” as per a release by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

While reacting to the pictures, one Redditor wrote, “Welcome to the Asthmaland,” and others joined in with “Asthmabad”, and “Asthma Pradesh”. A few even referred to Delhi as “The asthma capital of India”.

“Click a month later. Nothing will be visible,” said yet another.

A third wrote, “The solution is to stop coal as a fuel for electricity and switch more towards solar and wind. Also, stop parali burning completely. Incentivize companies and industries to move towards outer areas and plan the city better. incentivize employers to promote more work-from-home culture.”

“A face mask while travelling or heading out is a must,” suggested a fourth.

A fifth commented, “I just came travelling from Himachal needless to say as soon I enter Ambala I can feel the air got a little heavy, it seems like India needs strict air pollution law to battle this and a major green project in Delhi.”