Delhi Pollution: National capital gasps for breath as air quality drops to ‘very poor’

The national capital on Wednesday woke up to a 'poor' air quality. At the Lodhi Road area, the Air Quality Index (AQI) PM 2.5 was at 245 (poor category) and PM 10 at 247 (poor category), according to the news agency ANI. The overall air quality has been recorded in 'very poor' category.

“According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, major pollutant PM 2.5 and PM 10 are at 245 and 247 respectively, in Lodhi Road. Both fall in 'Poor' category,” ANI tweeted.

Delhi: According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, major pollutant PM 2.5 and PM 10 are at 245 and 247 respectively, in Lodhi Road. Both fall in 'Poor' category. pic.twitter.com/HA1vwM3Mx0

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018

ALSO READ |  Nursery school admissions in Delhi announced

On Tuesday, Anand Vihar recorded ‘severe’ air quality. The AQI in 23 areas was registered in the "very poor" category, while the quality was ‘poor’ in 12 areas. The level of PM 2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 183, and the PM 10 level was recorded at 326.

According to the SAFAR, the improvement in air quality is “unusual” for this time of the year. “The major role is being played by late night faster wind speed which otherwise remains calm. However, the air quality is expected to keep oscillating between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ for the next three days,” the SAFAR said.

Delhi is reeling under the menace of air pollution for the past couple of years. The region faced a major air quality crisis last year when severe pollution level forced the shutdown of schools and colleges. In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out.

AQI categories:

1. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’
2. AQI between 51 and 100 is ‘satisfactory’
3. AQI between 101 and 200 is ‘moderate’
4. AQI between 201 and 300 is ‘poor’
5. AQI between 301 and 400 is ‘very poor’