New Delhi (NVI): Overall air quality in national capital region further improved a notch today with the AQI recording the pollution level at 215 early in the morning although still in ‘Poor’ category.
However, the situation is likely to improve further as the weatherman has predicted light showers in next couple of days. Good rain in the capital region would wash pollutants away.
According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data and System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), major pollutants in Delhi’s Lodhi Road area were PM 2.5 at 215 and PM 10 at 203 both in ‘poor’ category.
According to SAFAR, at 8.26 am, levels of dangerous particulate matter called PM 2.5 and PM 10 were 103 (considered poor) and 163 (moderate) respectively.
Rain is expected in parts of northwesten India — including Delhi, Punjab and Haryana — today and tomorrow, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
A weather expert said widespread rain in Punjab and Haryana would lessen the impact of farm fires on the capital’s air quality.
AQI that falls between 51-100 is considered as ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 falls in the ‘moderate’ category, 201-300 is said to be in the ‘poor’ category, 301-400 is in the ‘very poor’ category while 401-500 is said to be in the ‘hazardous’ category.
-nad
