Delhi air quality ‘very poor’; Priyanka Gandhi urges PM Modi, CM Rekha to take steps to clear ‘filthy smog’

NEW DELHI, DHNS: Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' on Sunday and is likely to persist with this till Tuesday, prompting senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to take immediate steps for clearing the "filthy smog" people are breathing.

The national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 386 on Sunday morning, a rise from 303 the day before, the Central Pollution Control Bureau data showed while the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) noted that the air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category till November 4.

Priyanka said returning to the Delhi air from Wayanad first and then Bachwara in Bihar was "truly shocking". 

"The pollution enveloping this city is like a grey shroud thrown over it. It’s really about time all of us get together regardless of our political compulsions and do something about it. The central and state governments need to act immediately, we will all support and cooperate with whatever actions they choose to take to mitigate this awful situation," she said on 'X'.

"Year after year the citizens of Delhi are subjected to this toxicity with no recourse. Those who suffer from respiratory issues, children who commute to school every day and senior citizens especially, need urgent intervention to clear the filthy smog we are all breathing," she said, seeking urgent intervention of Gupta, Yadav and Modi.

Seventeen monitoring stations in the capital on Sunday recorded 'severe' air quality with readings above 400 while 20 other stations reported 'very poor' air quality with readings above 300. Wazirpur recorded the highest AQI at 439. 

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'.