On Thursday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached a concerning 398 in Delhi, falling within the 'very poor' category, based on data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
The Anand Vihar station experienced fluctuations in AQI. After briefly improving on Wednesday evening, it once again entered the severe category with PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels hitting 500, while carbon monoxide (CO) remained in the 'moderate' category at 125, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
On the preceding Wednesday evening, the AQI at Anand Vihar had slipped into the 'very poor' category, with PM 2.5 measuring 367 at 6 p.m, and CO at 108, still within the 'moderate' category.
To clarify, AQI readings between zero and 50 are considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. The Bawana station reported PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels at 500, placing them in the severe category, with CO at 106, maintaining a 'moderate' status.
At the Delhi Technical University (DTU) station, PM 10 spiked to 497, reaching the 'severe' category, while PM 2.5 remained at 371, still classified as 'very poor' on Thursday morning. CO levels recorded at 106 remained within the 'moderate' category at 9 a.m. on the weather station.
The station at Dwarka sector 8 reported PM 10 at 443 and PM 2.5 at 492, both in the 'severe' category, while CO levels at 104 remained in the 'moderate' category.
The air quality at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport T3 area was in the 'severe' category, with PM 2.5 at 457 and PM 10 at 402, while CO was in the 'satisfactory' category at 100.
At ITO, PM 2.5 soared to 500, placing it in the 'severe' category, while PM 10 reached 443, also in the 'severe' category. CO recorded at 101 and NO2 at 122 both retained a 'moderate' classification on Thursday morning.
At Lodhi Road, the AQI displayed PM 2.5 concentrations at 408 in the 'severe' category, while PM 10 recorded at 358 fell under the 'very poor' category. CO levels were at 120, maintaining a 'moderate' status.
Finally, at Punjabi Bagh, PM 2.5 levels reached 500, and PM 10 stood at 463, both within the 'severe category', indicating the severe air quality situation across various monitoring stations in the city.
(With agency inputs)
Also Read | Delhi's Air Quality Exceeds WHO Guidelines by 100 times
