With onset of winters, Delhi sees no respite in sight as air quality remains 'very poor' for third straight day

With the onset of winters, Delhi seems to be seeing no respite in sight as the air quality has been deteriorating with each passing day and enveloping the region with haze. The national capital on Monday witnessed a misty morning with the air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category for the third straight day. According to the weather office, minimum temperature was recorded at 15.3 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average. The humidity at 8.30 a.m. was 72 per cent, with the weather office predicting the maximum temperature to hover around 27 degrees Celsius for the day.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) , the national capital witnessed a misty morning on Sunday with air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category for two days straight. The minimum temperature recorded at 8.30 am on Sunday was 11 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal, while the humidity level was recorded at 86 per cent. The weatherman has forecast partly cloudy skied during the day with the maximum temperature hovering around 26 degrees Celsius.

It is pertinent to note that the national capital showed significant improvement on November 14 and 15 after rains washed away the pollutants but the rainfall also led to increased air capacity to hold pollutants.

On Saturday, the overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 308, which comes under the 'very poor' category. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall AQI at a 'poor' 269. PM2.5 — particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres — level was recorded at 125, while the PM10 level was recorded at 238. Six areas in Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality and 26 recorded 'poor' air quality. According to the CPCB data, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Nodia all recorded poor air quality while Gurgaon recorded moderate air quality.

An AQI between 0 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'.

With stubble burning being seen as one of the major contributors to the poor air quality in the region, the IITM stated that the fire counts in neighboring states of Delhi were the "largest-ever recorded" on November 8. It had also warned of a further deterioration in the air quality.