Delhi Air Quality Drops to ‘Very Poor’ Category

New Delhi: Delhi remained wrapped in dense smog on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 332, placing the city firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. Data from the monitoring network showed that 30 stations recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, while Jahangirpuri crossed into the ‘severe’ range with an AQI of 405.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board, AQI values from 0–50 are considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.

Forecasts indicate that Delhi’s air quality will continue to remain in the ‘very poor’ category until Saturday. The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) also suggests that the next six days are likely to remain in the same band.

Alongside deteriorating air quality, the city experienced a minimum temperature of 8 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The relative humidity touched 100 per cent. IMD estimates that the maximum temperature during the day will be around 25 degrees Celsius.