Delhi Pollution hits 'emergency' level again

After improvement on Saturday afternoon, Delhi pollution hit the "emergency" level again, with the minimum temperature dropping to 13 degrees Celsius, a MeT department official said.

High humidity level at 98 per cent contributed to the smog, the official said. 

At 9:00 am, Particulate Matter (PM) 10 Average Levels (24 Hourly) were recorded at 614 micro grams/m3, while PM 2.5 Average Levels (24 Hourly) were recorded at 441.7 micro grams/m3, as per Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). In Delhi's Lodhi Road area, PM 10 levels were at 560, and PM 2.5 at 625, way above the permissible limit of 100 and 60.

In Noida, PM 10 levels were at 551, and PM 2.5 levels at 541.The air quality is categorised as "severe", when pollution level hits 401 or above, in the Air Quality Index (AQI).

The city's air quality worsened ahead of winter as cooler air traps pollutants near the ground, preventing them from dispersing into the atmosphere.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified four reasons for the sudden onset of pollution -- temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and atmospheric boundary layer -- for the worsening Delhi air.

Due to the dense smog engulfing national capital, 34 trains running late, 21 were rescheduled and 8 trains were cancelled.

Delhi has been experiencing heavy smog for the past few days, forcing authorities to enforce emergency measures such as banning construction activities, barring trucks and heavy vehicles from entering Delhi and closure of brick kilns due to worsening air pollution.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government is also in talks with Pawan Hans Helicopter limited, for aerially sprinkling water in the city to settle the particulate matter.

The "odd-even" rationing of cars, which was supposed to begin on Monday, however, was called off by the Delhi government after the National Green Tribunal ordered the withdrawal of exemptions given to women and two-wheelers under the scheme.