AQI remains ‘very poor’ for third consecutive day in Delhi

Several areas in the city of Delhi also recorded near ‘hazardous’ air quality, with AQI exceeding 350.

The AQI in Delhi has been recorded in the ‘very poor’ category for the third day in a row on October 31. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is at 347 in Delhi and temperature settled at 17.3 degrees Celsius in the national capital, according to India’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

Several areas in the city of Delhi also recorded near ‘hazardous’ air quality, with AQI exceeding 350.

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Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that the AQI around North Campus, Delhi University was recorded at 394 in the morning hours while the ITO area in New Delhi had an AQI of 332. Lodhi Road recorded an AQI of 301.

Noida recorded an AQI of 371 (very poor) while the AQI recorded in Gurgaon was at 270 (poor) in Gurugram.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) consists of six AQI categories: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.

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The categories are determined on the levels of ambient concentrations of air pollutants and their potential health impacts, known as health breakpoints. According to the AQI scale, air quality falls into the following ranges: 0 to 50 is ‘good,’ 51 to 100 is ‘satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 is ‘moderate,’ 201 to 300 is ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 is ‘very poor,’ and 401 to 450 is ‘severe.”

Despite the implementation of a 15-point winter action plan to reduce rising pollution, there has been no significant change in air quality, as reported by ANI.

Initiatives like ‘Red Light on, Gaadi off’ are also in motion to address vehicular and biomass-burning emissions contributing to rising PM2.5 levels. The haze is likely to persist, with a ‘very poor’ air quality forecast for the region till October 31.