Burning eyes, choking lungs: Here’s what Delhi looks like as air pollution risesWhile high altitude wind was bringing in polluted air from the neighbouring states, experts said that lack of ground wind was preventing disbursal of the pollutants. Officials said the average air quality index (AQI) — the measure of pollutants in the air — shot up to 463, compared to 448 on Tuesday. Under the graded response action plan mandated by the Supreme Court for tackling air pollution, emergency is declared when the AQI shoots beyond 500. This was primarily because the suspended particulate matter in the air was at “hazardous” levels through the day across all monitoring stations. In 2016, the air pollution in Delhi was the worst on record, and the city had experienced its thickest smog in 17 years, with the average AQI hitting a peak of 497.

Source: Hindustan Times November 08, 2017 04:52 UTC