Air quality in city slips into 'severe' category

New Delhi: The Air Quality in the national Capital on Wednesday entered the 'severe' category after remaining in the "very poor" level for the past seven days. However, with weather experts predicting rain in the national Capital, the condition is likely to improve air quality.

The average AQI stood at 408 (severe category) by 4 pm. According to Environment Ministry's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) under the approaching western disturbance, increased wind speed and scattered rainfall is expected by Thursday

evening.

"SAFAR model suggests an improvement in AQI towards the lower end of the very poor category by late December 12," it reported.

At areas such as Ashok Vihar, Alipur, Bawana, DTU, Dwarka Sector – 8, Mundka, Wazirpur, Sirifort, RK Puram, Pusa the AQI stood at 451, 436, 471, 443, 442, 461, 459, 409, 402, 420.

On the other hand, AQI in neighboring areas - Faridabad (392) and Gurgaon (366) - was recorded in the very poor category, while in Ghaziabad (436), Greater Noida (441) and Noida (425) the air quality was in the severe category.

However, by December 13 further improvement in AQI is forecasted towards the lower end of the poor to the moderate category.

"After the western disturbance, increased moisture can lead to foggy conditions," added SAFAR.

Meanwhile, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected over Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, west Uttar Pradesh, maximum temperatures will be lower than average over Northern, North Western and North Central India for the next five

days.

"Due to the WD, heavy snow or rain and thunderstorms are likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Thursday and Friday. Heavy rain and thunderstorms have been forecast over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The disturbance will move away in the eastern direction on Saturday," according to the weather department.