Delhi-NCR air quality remains in 'severe' category

New Delhi: There is no respite for the people of Delhi-NCR on Saturday as well, as the thick layer of smog still engulfs the entire region with the air quality remaining in the 'severe' category.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital on Saturday crossed the 500 mark at many places, according to the India Metrological Department (IMD).

Almost all stations across Delhi-NCR recorded an AQI in the 'severe' category. In some areas, the air quality touched the 'hazardous' category, crossing the 500 AQI mark.

In Delhi's Lodhi Road area AQI was reported at 476, at IIT Delhi area AQI was at 479 and in the Delhi University's north campus area AQI was at 578 today.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', between 51 and 100 is 'satisfactory', between 101 and 200 is 'moderate', and between 201 and 300 is 'poor', 301-400 is 'very poor', and between 401 and 500 is 'severe'.

In its morning bulletin, IMD said, "The air quality over Delhi -NCR is likely to remain in the upper end of very poor to a severe category on November 13 and November 14. Slow winds during day times and calm winds during evening/night are extremely unfavorable for dispersion of pollutants. The unfavorable meteorological conditions are likely to prevail for next 5 days."

"The AQI today is in the severe category and is likely to be the same tomorrow due to increase in stubble related fire counts and increase in transport level (925 mb) wind speed during the night" said the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research, (SAFAR).

The agency said the effective fire count increased to 4056 and share of crop residue burning is about 35% in PM2.5.

"Winds at transport level are likely to reduce from 13th evening leading to less transport of pollutants from the upwind region to Delhi. A few locations in Delhi witnessed PM10 as the major pollutant (instead of PM2.5), which could be due to an increase in relative humidity locally," it added.

According to the Centre Pollution Control Board, (CPCB) the 24-hour average concentration of lungs damaging fine partials known as PM2.5 stood at 491 micrograms per cubic meter in the morning at 8 am, The PM10 level was recorded at 490 Micrograms cubic meters.

The central pollution watchdog on Friday advised people to avoid going outdoors and directed government and private offices to reduce vehicle usage by at least 30 per cent due to severe air pollution in the national capital.

In an order, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that at a review meeting held earlier in the day, it was observed that meteorological conditions will be highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants till November 18 in view of low winds with calm conditions during the night.

The air quality is considered to be in the 'emergency' category if the PM2.5 and PM10 levels continue to be above 300 micrograms per cubic metre and 500 micrograms per cubic metre respectively for 48 hours or more. (UNI)