Delhi shivers in biting cold as mercury drops 5 notches below normal; AQI very poor at 312

The air quality in Delhi deteriorated to the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday morning, with the overall air quality index (AQI) at 312, the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting Research (SAFAR) data said.

According to the data in SAMEER – a software that provides updates on the air quality index published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) – Anand Vihar (392), Punjabi Bagh (384), Rohini (382) and Wazirpur (386) areas have AQIs of more than 300, which lies in the ‘very poor’ category.

In the adjoining areas of Delhi, the AQI, as per SAMEER, was 389 in Ghaziabad, Noida (337) Gurugram (320), Faridabad (349) and Greater Noida (296).

“Maximum temperature and wind speed are likely to increase gradually for the next 3 days (18th, 19th, 20st) enhancing ventilation of pollutants leading to improvement in air quality but within ‘very poor’ category. High wind speed is likely from 21st resulting in dilution of pollutants and improvement of AQI,” SAFAR in a statement said.

Dense to moderate fog is predicted in Delhi for the next four days, the IMD said.

An AQI between zero 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.

Meanwhile, Delhiites shivered in the biting cold on Monday as cold day conditions prevailed at isolated places in the National Capital with the temperature plummeting at least five to six degrees below normal in some parts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The city will witness shallow fog in the morning on Tuesday. The maximum and minimum temperatures on Tuesday will hover around 18 and 10 degrees Celsius, the weather office said.

(With inputs from PTI)