Delhi Sees Improvement In Air Quality, But Remains In 'Very Poor' Category

In a slight improvement, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category at 373 on Friday morning as a thick blanket of smog enveloped the capital, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

With this, the capital has been witnessing air quality in this range for the seventh consecutive day. Data from the CPCB-developed Sameer app showed the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 13 out of 39 air monitoring stations in the ‘severe’ category, with Wazirpur being the worst affected at 442.

According to CPCB standards, an AQI between 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’.

IHBAS Dilshad Garden (255), Lodhi Road (286) and Mandir Marg (278) are the only three monitoring

stations that recorded ‘poor’ air quality levels. However, the majority of the areas remained above the ‘very poor’ threshold.

The areas affected the most include: Anand Vihar (412), Bawana (430), Burari Crossing (404), Jahangirpuri (433), Mundka (435), Narela (408), RK Puram (406), and Rohini (421) had AQI values in the ‘severe’ range.

On Thursday, the AQI in the national capital was 391, hovering close to the ‘severe’ mark, while it was 392 on Wednesday and 374 on Tuesday, CPCB data showed.

Ghaziabad Most Polluted In NCR

Meanwhile, in the National Capital Region (NCR), Ghaziabad is the most-polluted city, with an AQI of 431 that falls in the ‘severe’ category. Faridabad was the least polluted with ‘poor’ air quality levels, with the figure at 242, followed by Gurugram (294).

Noida’s air quality nearly touched the ‘severe’ category, with the AQI at 400, while Greater Noida had a reading of 377, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category.

Temperature In Delhi

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 11.4 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees below normal, while the maximum settled at 28.2 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

For Friday, the IMD has forecast moderate fog, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 27°C and 12°C, respectively.