Delhi’s air quality stayed 'very poor' on Saturday morning with an AQI of 348. Seven stations recorded 'severe' levels as conditions look set to worsen. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh targeted PM Modi over the pollution, saying, "This time, AQI over 400!" He claimed toxic air makes it hard to breathe.
Seven of the capital's 59 monitoring stations record 'severe' readings at 9 am, and forecasts point to worsening conditions over the next few days
Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' on Saturday morning, with the citywide air quality index (AQI) at 348 at 9 am and seven of its 59 monitoring stations recording 'severe' readings.
The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI readings from 301 to 400 as 'very poor' and those from 401 to 500 as 'severe'. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi forecast that conditions would worsen over the next few days.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X, adapting his 2024 Lok Sabha campaign slogan, 'Abki baar, 400 paar', to target him over the capital's pollution.
"This time, AQI over 400!" Ramesh wrote. "The preaching minister's slogan is coming true when it comes to AQI!"
Ramesh called Delhi the world's most polluted city and said the toxic air was making it difficult to breathe. He said children and the elderly were bearing the brunt of the crisis and claimed that the number of patients in hospitals was rising.
"Slogans were tossed into the air; now the air itself has turned to poison!" he wrote.