Delhi Pollution: Smog in national capital, AQI recorded at 272

The national capital on Thursday woke up to dense smog.  The air quality was recorded in the 'poor' category. At the Lodhi Road area, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 272, according to the news agency ANI. 

Delhi: #Visuals from Lodhi Road area; Air Quality Index (AQI) in the area is poor at 272. pic.twitter.com/2YJNxQJIAw

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018

Delhi: Thick layer of smog blankets Rajpath and India Gate pic.twitter.com/XNk56dgK7x

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018

ALSO READ | Delhi gasps for breath as air quality remains drops to 'very poor'

Earlier, the Delhi government released a draft policy which seeks to kick-start the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in the capital. In five years, the policy targets 25 per cent of all new vehicle registrations in the city to be electric. The draft policy is one of the 26 commitments made under the 2018-19 “green budget” in order to combat the rising air pollution in the city, according to officials.

On Wednesday, the CPCB said 22 areas of Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality while 13 areas recorded 'poor' air quality. The level of PM2.5 -- particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres -- was recorded at 159 and the PM10 level was recorded at 316, it said.

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 two days,” the SAFAR said.

ALSO READ | Nursery school admissions in Delhi announced

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’