Air quality reaches 'severe' category
New Delhi: The national Capital witnessed a hazy morning on Tuesday, with Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 'severe' category that remained constant throughout the day.
According to data shared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), various areas of Delhi witnessing the air quality reaching more than 400-mark.
The most polluted areas according to CPCB data were Anand Vihar (442), Ashok Vihar (418), Bawana (413), Dwarka sector – 8 (414), Jahangirpuri (410), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (406), Mandir Marg (403), Wazirpur (424) and Punjabi Bagh (413) among others.
Other areas, meanwhile, had almost reached 400 or stayed at 399 or 398. Areas like Burari Crossing (396), Mathura Road (399), DTU (398), ITO (397) were in "very poor" category.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".
However, Central-government based agency, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) forecasted that the overall pollution level during Diwali period of current year (2019) was found to be better than past three years.
On the other hand, they have predicted that the AQI might plummet in the coming days. "AQI is forecasted to be in higher-end of very poor category for the next two days with few touching higher levels . An increase in boundary layer wind speed is expected by November 1, which is likely to bring improvement in AQI," according to a report by SAFAR.
Post Diwali, Delhi has witnessed the worst air quality of the season with citizens complaining of bad air. SAFAR in its advisory on Monday had advised elderly and patuients suffering from breathing problem to not step out. Officials both in CPCB and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have said they are regularly monitoring the situations.
