Delhi faces worst air quality, Baddi and Chandigarh follow in the top five polluted cities

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Air quality in North India, including the national capital, Punjab, and Haryana, continues to worsen, with Delhi topping the list as the most polluted city in the country. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), five cities in India, primarily from the northern region, recorded AQI levels above 300 by 4 pm on Saturday. Delhi's air quality remains the worst, with an AQI of 353, followed by Baddi in Himachal Pradesh at 344, and Mandideep in Madhya Pradesh at 343. Chandigarh ranks fourth with an AQI of 332, while Bahadurgarh in Haryana recorded an AQI of 305, making it the fifth most polluted city.

A persistent blanket of smog has engulfed Delhi, and despite efforts to improve the situation, including the use of anti-smog guns, the air quality continues to be in the "very poor" category for the ninth consecutive day. On Saturday, some areas in Delhi, including Bawana, saw the AQI surge above 400, exacerbating breathing difficulties for residents. While northern India grapples with hazardous air quality, the southern state of Kerala offers a contrast, with Palkalaiperur recording the cleanest air in the country with an AQI of just 22. Aizawl in Mizoram follows with an AQI of 27.

In Punjab, the situation remains grim, with major cities like Amritsar and Rupnagar seeing AQI levels above 260 due to ongoing stubble burning. Authorities have registered thousands of FIRs and collected significant fines to curb the issue, but the air quality in many areas continues to remain below the safety threshold. Efforts are ongoing in Delhi to reduce pollution levels, but the city's air quality remains a significant concern for public health.