Delhi Chokes: 9th Day of 'Very Poor' Air Quality, 11 Stations Hit 'Severe' Mark
Image Source: Internet
Delhi's air quality crisis shows no signs of abating, with the city facing its ninth consecutive day of 'very poor' air on Saturday. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) settled at 370, a staggering figure that paints a grim picture of the city's environmental health. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 11 out of 38 operational monitoring stations in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality, with AQI levels crossing the 400 mark in areas such as DTU, Bawana, and Anand Vihar. The CPCB categorizes air quality as follows: 'good' (0-50), 'satisfactory' (51-100), 'moderate' (101-200), 'poor' (201-300), 'very poor' (301-400), and 'severe' (401-500). Stubble burning and vehicular emissions continue to be major contributors to Delhi's pollution, with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology estimating that these factors accounted for 14.9% and 2.8% of the city's pollution, respectively, on Saturday. Satellite imagery detected 291 farm fires in neighboring states on Friday. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department recorded a minimum temperature of 11.8 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees below normal, and a maximum temperature of 23.7 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees above normal. The IMD forecasts moderate fog for Sunday, with temperatures expected to hover around 26 and 11 degrees Celsius.
