New Delhi: Air quality in the capital Delhi saw a slight improvement on Tuesday morning. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 7 am, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 307, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category.
Delhi’s air quality had deteriorated after Diwali celebrations on Sunday. Along with the continuously increasing pollution, a drop in temperature and moderate fog have also contributed to the situation.
The Delhi government is taking several steps to control pollution. Under this initiative, water sprinklers are being installed in various areas of the capital to reduce the impact of airborne pollutants.
Highest pollution in Chandni Chowk
According to CPCB data, Chandni Chowk recorded the highest AQI in Delhi at 395, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. Following this, Punjabi Bagh recorded an AQI of 355 and Aya Nagar recorded an AQI of 354.
The AQI in RK Puram was 328, and in Safdarjung area, it was 371. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 290 and Ashok Vihar recorded an AQI of 278, both of which fall in the poor category.
The AQI in Narela was recorded at 272, while the air quality index around India Gate and Kartavya Path was 258.
Moderate fog will persist for the next five days
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning. Moderate fog enveloped the capital during this time. The weather department has predicted moderate fog to persist for the next five days.
Meanwhile, Ambala in Haryana recorded an average AQI of 250, which falls in the poor category. Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s average AQI was 146, which falls in the moderate category.
It’s worth noting that on Monday, the day after Diwali, pollution levels reached severe levels in many areas of Delhi. Several monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400. Visibility was also significantly reduced in many areas during the morning.
Learn about the different AQI categories
According to the CPCB’s classification, AQI ranges from 0 to 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.