Air quality plunges as pollution levels soar in Delhi

Air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) worsened on Tuesday as the real-time air quality map recorded high levels of pollution.

Air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) worsened on Tuesday morning as the real-time air quality map recorded high levels of pollution.

Air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) worsened on Tuesday as the real-time air quality map recorded high levels of pollution. (Raj K Raj/HT File Photo)

Anand Vihar and RK Puram in New Delhi recorded a reading of 500 on the Hindustan Times air quality monitoring portal, putting the pollution level in the “severe” category. The highest possible reading is 500.

Air quality in other locations such as Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Shadipur was also “severe” or “very poor” at 8am on Tuesday.

One of the main causes of pollution in Delhi-NRC is high levels of Particulate Matter 10 (PM 10) and PM 2.5 -- particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that lead to hazardous smog and cause asthma and respiratory diseases.

Check pollution level in New Delhi