New Delhi (NVI): The air quality in many parts of Delhi inched closer to the ‘severe’ category this morning, as the level of pollutants rise in the atmosphere.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (CPCB) data, air quality index (AQI) is at 401 in Anand Vihar, 405 in Alipur and 410 in Wazirpur, all three in ‘severe’ category.
Delhi recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 392 at around 10 am. The 24-hour average AQI was 297 on Wednesday, 312 on Tuesday, 353 on Monday, 349 on Sunday, 345 on Saturday and 366 on Friday.
In RK Puram, the AQI was recorded at 376, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. Similarly, the AQI in ITO was 384, 311 in Lodhi Road and 387 in Punjabi Bagh.
The higher levels of pollutants also reduced the visibility in various parts of Delhi, as thin layer of smog was also witnessed this morning.
Moreover, the air monitoring agencies have warned that the AQI in Delhi-NCR will slip further over the next few days due to the reduced wind speed.
The share of stubble burning emissions from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in national capital’s PM 2.5 levels has also increased to 23 per cent, the maximum this season so far, which deteriorated the situation further, the air quality monitor SAFAR said.
It added that accumulation of locally generated pollutants and increased external intrusion due to north-north westerly level winds from regions where stubble is burnt will be major reasons for the increase in PM2.5 levels.
-RJV
