Delhi’s air quality recorded in ‘very poor’ category, likely to improve by Saturday
The national capital recorded its air quality in the very poor category on Friday morning, while government agencies said it is likely
New Delhi: The national capital recorded its air quality in the very poor category on Friday morning, while government agencies said it is likely to improve slightly in the next 24 hours.
On Thursday, the city's air quality had dropped to the worst levels since December last year, with farm fires accounting for 42 percent of its pollution, the maximum this season so far.
Experts said unfavourable meteorological conditions calm winds and low temperatures and smoke from farm fires in neighbouring states pushed the air quality index to the severe zone on Thursday, the first time since January.
Delhi's air quality index (AQI) stood at 397 at 9 am. On Thursday, the 24-hour average AQI was 450, the highest since November 15 last year, when it was 458.
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".