India’s Air Pollution Seen From Space Northern India is currently facing a severe air pollution crisis. Millions of people are at high risk of health risks from harmful particles. The polluted air in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) is starting to appear as smog.
It is difficult for the naked eye to see a few meters away. Some media outlets have even compared the pollution there to cigarette smoke. It has been analyzed that doing 10 minutes of yoga in Delhi and smoking 49 cigarettes in a clean place has the same effect.
Cities like Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad are facing severe air quality problems. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in these places has reached far above the safety standards set by the World Health Organization. The situation has become so severe that thick layers of smog are now visible even from space.
“North India’s pollution is clearly visible from space today, which is a big difference from a month ago,” a Reddit post said. It also released a map showing the thick layer of pollution spread across the region in grey. You can click here to see the original source of the photo.
Many Reddit users have expressed their displeasure in the post. One user wrote, “The situation is so bad that my air purifier is running continuously. But, I still see a red light. I have closed the doors and windows. But there is no improvement.” Another user commented that they are now devastated.
On Monday, Delhi’s AQI had crossed 500, the highest level of the season. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Noida’s AQI was 423, Gurugram’s 469 and Ghaziabad’s 438 on the same day.
AQI zero to 50 is considered ‘good’. Similarly, 51 to 100 is considered ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 is considered ‘moderate’, and 201 to 300 is considered ‘bad’. Similarly, 301 to 400 is classified as ‘very bad’, 401 to 450 as ‘severe’, and AQI above 450 is classified as ‘severe-plus’. Pollution in these places is classified as ‘severe plus’.
