Delhi Weather, Air Quality, Pollution Live: DU, JNU shift to online classes as air quality worsens

Punjab recorded its highest single-day count of stubble-burning incidents this season, with 1,251 farm fires reported on Monday.According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), this has raised the total number of such cases in the state to 9,655.The surge underscores the ongoing challenge of stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution in northern India. Monday’s figures have surpassed the daily tallies of the past three years, with 701 incidents reported on the same day in 2022 and 637 in 2023.

Delhi University would shift to online classes till November 23 and the Jawaharlal Nehru University till November 22, the varsities announced amid worsening air quality levels in the city.

The decision comes as the air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) reached “alarmingly high” levels, prompting concerns about health and safety. At 4 pm, Delhi’s AQI was 494.

Delhi University in a notification said regular classes in “physical mode” will resume on November 25.

JNU, in its statement, said it would conduct all classes online till November 22.

The schedule of exams and interviews, however, remains unchanged, the universities said.

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Amid worsening air quality in the national capital, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to conduct classes online until November 22, citing severe pollution and hazardous AQI levels in Delhi and the NCR.

In Haryana, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, announced that, as per directives from the Director of Secondary Education Haryana and after assessing the Air Quality Index (AQI) situation, all physical classes up to the 12th standard in Gurugram district will remain suspended from November 19 to November 23, 2024, or until further notice. - ANI

Delhi recorded air pollution more than 17 times above an acceptable level as worsening smog triggered curbs on trucking and shuttered construction sites and schools. - Bloomberg

Delhi’s hazardous air quality was a key focus at COP29, as experts warned about the health risks of air pollution and called for immediate global action.

Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends, sais that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had reached dangerous levels, with some areas recording particulate pollution above 1,000 microgram per cubic metre. “Pollution comes from many sources like black carbon, ozone, burning fossil fuels, and farm fires. We need solutions that tackle all of these,” she said.

Khosla also explained that low wind speeds during the La Niña weather pattern are trapping pollutants in the air, making the situation worse. “While we discuss major global issues, millions of people’s health is at risk. We must act fast,” she said.

Courtney Howard, Vice-Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, shared her experience from Canada, where wildfires forced the evacuation of 70 per cent of her population in 2023. “This was expensive, even for a rich country like ours. Poorer nations need financial help to deal with such disasters,” she said. - PTI

With air pollution levels escalating to alarming levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region, the sale of air purifiers and masks have surged significantly, according to traders in the city.

Delhi’s air quality plummeted to the ‘severe plus’ category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 484 — its worst reading this season, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

As Delhiites struggles to breathe, traders said the demand for air purifiers and masks have increased as many residents see the equipment as a necessity to safeguard their health.

Vijendra Mohan, the owner of Air Expert India, a dealership in Indirapuram, said their air purifier sales have witnessed a significant increase after air pollution breached the ‘severe’ level.

“Earlier, we used to sell around 20 purifiers a day, sometimes even over two days. Now, the numbers have doubled to 40 per day. Air purifiers have become essential for households, and I am receiving over 150 inquiries daily,” he said.

Rakesh Singh, who runs a Blueair air purifier dealership in Pushp Vihar, said, “Last month, I was selling 10 to 12 air purifiers a day. Now, sales have increased to 25 units daily,” he noted, adding that the spike in demand has been consistent over the past few weeks.

Ravi Kaushik, the owner of Airth Air Purifier Company in Vikaspuri, said he has recorded a 70 per cent jump in sales since late October.

Punjab on Monday reported 1,251 fresh farm fire cases, the single-day highest this season, taking the state’s total count of such cases to 9,655, Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data showed.

On November 8, Punjab reported 730 farm fire incidents, which was the highest in a day this season till Monday.

Muktsar district on Monday reported 247 stubble burning incidents, the most in the state, followed by Moga (149), Ferozepur (130), Bathinda (129), Fazilka (94) and Faridkot (88), the data showed.

On the same day in 2022 and 2023, the state reported 701 and 637 active firm fire cases, respectively, as per the data.

From September 15 till November 18, Punjab witnessed 9,655 stubble burning incidents, registering around 71 per cent dip in crop residue burnings in comparison to the figures reported in the corresponding period of the previous year.

A total of 15 flights were diverted and over 100 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport on Monday as bad weather conditions in the national capital resulted in poor visibility impacting aircraft operations, according to an official.

Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo informed passengers through X that flights may be affected due to poor visibility conditions in the national capital, which is also grappling with high pollution levels.

Of the 15 flights, 13 were diverted to Jaipur and 1 each to Dehradun and Lucknow, the official said and added that the diversions happened between 8.30 am and 3.30 pm.

Some of the pilots were not trained for CAT III operations due to which flights had to be diverted.

Broadly, CAT III trained pilots are allowed to take off or land planes at very low visibility conditions.

The official also said that more than 100 flights were delayed at the airport due to the bad weather conditions.

Smog can only be cleared by artificial rain or wind; Centre yet to act on Delhi govt’s request on it: Environment Minister Gopal Rai.

Amid worsening air quality, central government staff body seeks WFH, staggered working hours - PTI

14 flights diverted, many delayed due to bad weather - PTI

Toxic haze envelops Delhi, doctors warn of health risks for all - PTI

SC asks Delhi-NCR states to take call on conducting physical classes up to class 12 in view of alarming pollution level - PTI

Delhi recorded air pollution more than 17 times above an acceptable level as worsening smog triggered curbs on trucking and shuttered construction sites and schools. 

The city’s air quality index score touched 1743 at 12:30 p.m. local time Monday, according to IQAir, which collects global pollution data. A level below 101 is considered acceptable, and scores above 300 are regarded as hazardous.

Most trucks were restricted from entering the city, aside from those carrying essential commodities and some less polluting models, after the Commission for Air Quality Management responded to the smog late Sunday with a series of emergency measures.

Officials halted construction activities, including on highways, telecommunications and power transmission, ordered some schools to shift to online learning and encouraged public services to have half employees work from home. 

Meeting called for implementation of GRAP IV rescheduled, Gopal Rai accuses officials of negligency - PTI

Delhi airport: 11 flights diverted, many delayed due to bad weather - PTI

An AQI of 400 or higher is deemed ‘severe,’ and if it exceeds 450, it falls in the ‘severe plus’ category. In 2017, the Centre rolled out the GRAP restrictions for Delhi and its adjoining areas.

It classifies air quality into four stages: Stage 1 - ‘poor’ (AQI 201-300), Stage 2 - ‘very poor’ (AQI 301-400), Stage 3 - ‘severe’ (AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 - ‘severe plus’ (AQI above 450).

IMD has predicted clear skies for Monday and Tuesday over Delhi NCR. The predominant surface wind is likely to come from the northwest direction with a speed of less than 6 kmph during the morning hours on Monday. It also mentioned that smog/moderate to dense fog is likely in the morning, and wind speed will increase thereafter but will still be less than 10 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon. It will decrease again, becoming less than 8 kmph from the northwest direction during the evening and night. Dense to very dense fog is likely in the evening/night on Monday.

There was dense toxic smog on Monday morning, which caused visibility to drop sharply in the morning, leading to reduced visibility at airports and other places. The India Meteorological Department said that the visibility at IGI airport was 100 metres at 7.30 am, and in many other places like Chandigarh, Gwalior, and Pathankot, it was 200 metres or less.

The CAQM announcement on GRAP IV came on Sunday evening after Delhi’s daily average AQI rose to 457 at 7 pm, up from 441 at 4 pm.

Delhi’s AQI nears 500; stubble burning, smog worsen air quality. A day after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ air quality in Delhi and adjoining areas to prevent further deterioration of air quality, the AQI further worsened to 487 at 11 am on Monday. Several pollution control measures, including shifting of classes in schools to online mode and a ban on truck entry, came into force from 8 am on Monday.

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Delhi airport: 9 flights diverted due to bad weather - PTI

Toxic smog in Indian capital more than 60 times WHO limit, says AFP report citing IQAir pollution monitor.

North India facing medical emergency due to hazardous air quality caused by stubble burning: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.

SC questions Delhi govt over delay in implementation of stage 4 of GRAP in national capital despite alarming rise in pollution. Top court also asks Delhi government about steps taken to curb rising pollution level in the national capital.- PTI

Bad weather: 5 flights diverted at Delhi airport - PTIRead full report.

Farm fires - where stubble left after harvesting rice is burnt to clear fields - have contributed as much as 40% of the pollution in Delhi, SAFAR, a weather forecasting agency under the ministry of earth sciences has said. - Reuters

Physical classes discontinued for Delhi students. Classes to go online till further orders, other than for classes 10 and 12 - ANI

In Agra, a thick layer of haze engulfed the Taj Mahal amid the rise in air pollution levels. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in Agra remains in the ‘Poor’ category. 

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) issued a notice, “Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.” - ANI

The air quality worsened in Delhi on Monday morning and a thick blanket of smog engulfed several parts. The air quality level plunged to ‘severe plus’ levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index recorded at 7 am was 483 in the national capital.

A toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj, as residents complained of difficulty in breathing and irritation in the eyes. - ANI.Read the full report here.