Los Angeles has been facing catastrophic wildfires that have devastated large areas of the city, resulting in deaths and widespread damage. Nevertheless, despite the disastrous fires, the city’s air quality is still superior to that of Delhi. As the flames continue, the air quality index (AQI) in LA was marked at 158, while Delhi’s AQI remained alarmingly high at 373. This significant contrast, highlighted by an X user, underscores the concerning disparity in air quality between the two cities.
As per IQAir, the air quality in Delhi is presently designated as “Very Unhealthy” with an AQI of 247, whereas LA’s AQI, even amidst the ongoing fires, is categorized as “Moderate” at 60. The evident contrast has triggered conversations about the geographical elements influencing pollution levels. LA benefits from its proximity to the open ocean, which disperses polluted air, while Delhi’s landlocked position renders it more susceptible to elevated pollution levels.
Half of LA is on fire, but the air is still cleaner than Delhi’s https://t.co/hQrRvjZFXI pic.twitter.com/AdLVYRkK4u
— Abhinav Kukreja (@kukreja_abhinav) January 9, 2025
One user remarked, “That’s due to the high wind speed that carries particles away rapidly. However, wind speed is low in Delhi. ” Another mentioned, “The last few months have been extremely poor concerning air quality in Delhi. Typically, conditions start to improve by this time in January, but there is still no indication of better air quality. ”
A third user stated, “I think geography plays a crucial role here. LA is adjacent to the open ocean, while Delhi is several hours from mountains and far from the ocean. ” Another individual jokingly remarked, “Strolling through my neighborhood this evening, the air transported me back to the vibrant streets of Old Delhi. Diwali is in the atmosphere. ”
In light of deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reinstated Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR. Under this stage, the usage of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles is limited to address escalating pollution levels.
