A sudden spike in dust pollution since last night has blanketed Delhi and its surrounding regions in a thick layer of dust, severely affecting visibility and deteriorating the air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has breached the 200-mark, entering the ‘poor’ category, raising serious health concerns.
Data from multiple pollution observation centres in the capital show PM10 and PM2.5 levels soaring to nearly 20 times the normal limits. These fine particulate matters are considered hazardous to human health, especially for individuals with respiratory conditions.
Post-midnight, the wind speed dropped significantly to around 3–7 km/h, allowing the dust to linger in the atmosphere. As a result, visibility has remained low, fluctuating between 1,200 and 1,500 meters. This sharp decline in visibility not only poses a risk to road traffic but also poses a serious threat to those suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) explained the cause behind this sudden environmental shift. According to the IMD, strong, dust-laden winds blew across the Palam area near IGI Airport between 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM, reducing visibility drastically from 4,500 meters to just 1,200 meters. Wind speeds during this period reached 30–40 km/h, contributing to the swift dispersal of dust particles across the region.
In a surprising development, several monitoring stations have stopped displaying PM10 readings, sparking questions about their reliability.
In a slight reprieve, the IMD reported that this morning, westerly winds at 10 km/h helped improve visibility in the Palam area from 1,300 meters to 1,500 meters. The weather department expects a gradual decline in pollution levels over the coming days.
Published By:
Akshat Trivedi
Published On:
May 15, 2025
English (US) ·