Delhi Pollution: Haze engulfs national capital as AQI touches 369-mark

Delhi on Monday woke up to a hazy morning. The overall Air Quality Index of the national capital was recorded at 369 which falls in the very poor category, according to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research). An AQI between 0 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".

Air Quality Index of Delhi's Lodhi Road area; prominent pollutants PM 2.5 at 263 and PM 10 at 249 pic.twitter.com/3Ta3Yrjy5S

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018

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A thick haze due to smog engulfed the national capital which recorded the worst air quality of this season, authorities said.

Authorities attribute the dip in air quality to localised factors like construction dust, vehicular pollution as well as regional factors like pollution due stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana. Stubble burning would contribute to 15 per cent PM2.5 per cent pollution on Monday," an official with the SAFAR said.

SAFAR also issued a health advisory due to increased pollution level in Delhi, urging people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.

Earlier, the Supreme Court ruled that people in the country can burst firecrackers from 8 PM to 10 PM only on Diwali and other festivals, permitting the sale and manufacture of low emission “green” firecrackers countrywide.

Environment and health experts welcomed the order, with some describing it as a “spectacular” decision, while others saying it was time the society celebrated festive occasions “more responsibly”.

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The CPCB-led task force also warned that at beginning of November the situation may get further deteriorated on account of localized emissions during festival and regional contribution due to stubble burning.