Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates Again, Reaches Hazardous Levels
Air Quality in Delhi Declines to Hazardous Levels
After a slight improvement over the past two days, the air quality in the national capital has once again plunged into the 'very poor' category as of Friday. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for Delhi has been recorded at 310.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), at least 24 out of 40 monitoring stations in Delhi reported 'very poor' air quality. Jahangirpuri and Anand Vihar were noted as the most polluted areas, both registering an AQI of 395.
In contrast, Lodhi Road recorded an AQI of 185, which falls into the 'moderate' category. Over the last two days, Delhi's air quality had remained in the 'poor' range. The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) has predicted that the air quality will continue to remain in the 'very poor' category for the next six days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that the current average wind speed is below 10 kilometers per hour, which is unfavorable for the dispersion of pollutants. According to CPCB standards, an AQI of 0 to 50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. The weather department has forecasted that the maximum temperature in Delhi will range between 21 to 23 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to be between six to eight degrees Celsius.