New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality worsened on Sunday (October 4), with the city recording an air quality index (AQI) of 187, the highest level in 83 days
and falling in the ‘moderate’ category. The maximum temperature was 36.4 degrees Celsius, which was 2.2 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was recorded at 24.1 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees higher than the seasonal average. The last time Delhi recorded a higher AQI was on July 13, when the index stood at 246. According to the Sameer app, 16 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded air quality in the 'poor' category, with Mundka recording the highest AQI of 273, followed by Narela at 257. As many as 26 stations saw AQIs in the 'moderate' category, while Burari was the only station where the air quality was in the 'satisfactory' category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) considers an AQI between zero and 50 as 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. Delhi recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar, followed by 36.4 degrees at Safdarjung, 36.3 degrees at Lodi Road, 35.8 degrees at Ridge and 34.6 degrees at Palam. Safdarjung logged a minimum of 24.1 degrees Celsius, while Lodi Road recorded 23.2 degrees, Ayanagar 22.8 degrees, Palam 22.4 degrees and Ridge 21 degrees. According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, a total of 203 stubble-burning incidents were recorded across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh between September 15 and October 3. On October 3, Punjab recorded one such incident, while Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reported 12 and 15, respectively. Delhi recorded only one stubble-burning incident during the period, on September 19, when it reported its first such incident of the season, the data showed. Relative humidity was recorded at 51 per cent at 5.30 pm. The IMD has forecast a clear sky in Delhi on Monday, with the maximum and minimum temperature expected to hover around 36 and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively. (With inputs from PTI)
