Delhi Pollution: City breathes easier as AQI improves slightly

For the second consecutive day on Monday, Delhi’s air quality showed a slight improvement although it remained in the ‘poor’ category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 273 in the morning.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI on Sunday stood at 285, an improvement to the ‘poor’ category and a welcome relief following 32 consecutive days of ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ air quality (AQI over 400).

The city’s air quality was last recorded in the ‘poor’ category on October 29 with an AQI of 268, according to the CPCB.

Experts attribute the improvement to dry northwesterly winds and ample sunlight, which have helped disperse pollutants. However, the city’s air quality remains far from ideal as an AQI between 201 and 300 is still considered harmful to sensitive groups.

An AQI between zero 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’.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a minimum temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, 0.9 degrees above the season’s average.

The maximum temperature is expected to rise to around 27 degrees Celsius and the humidity levels were recorded at 89 per cent at 8:30 am, the IMD said.

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Meanwhile, on Sunday, the national capital continued to struggle with toxic air as its air quality remained in the “very poor” category for the eighth consecutive day.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 329 at 9 AM, slightly lower than Saturday’s 24-hour average of 346.

Data from the Sameer app, which provides hourly updates, showed that 23 out of 38 monitoring stations across the city reported “very poor” AQI levels.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels at 93 per cent at 8.30 AM. The weather department predicted a mostly clear sky for the morning, with the maximum temperature expected to reach around 27 degrees Celsius.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi forecasted that the AQI would remain in the “very poor” category for the next three days on Sunday.