Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
Delhi woke up to heavy smog on Thursday as air quality deteriorated sharply. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 352 — about 80 points higher than earlier in the week — placing the city in the 'very poor' band.
Nearby urban centres including Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon also moved into the 'very poor' category. Specific localities recorded alarming readings: Vivek Vihar (AQI 415), Anand Vihar (AQI 409) and Wazirpur (AQI 394). For context, AQI readings between 0 and 50 are considered 'good'.
The drop in air quality came despite a cloud seeding operation carried out by the Delhi government in collaboration with IIT Kanpur — the first such attempt in over five decades. Officials said the experiment failed because the clouds lacked sufficient moisture; IIT Kanpur noted cloud seeding typically needs around 50–60% humidity, while the trial's clouds contained only 10–15% moisture.
Authorities activated GRAP II measures in response, imposing limits on construction work among other curbs. In addition, a ban on non-BS-VI commercial vehicles entering Delhi will take effect from November 1 as part of ongoing mitigation steps.
With visibility reduced and pollutant concentrations high, residents — particularly children, older adults and people with respiratory illnesses — are advised to take precautions. The unsuccessful seeding effort underlines the need for sustained, long-term actions to address Delhi's persistent air pollution problem.
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