Delhi Air Quality: Slips to 'very poor', firefighting continues at Bhalswa landfill

Delhi 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".

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had flayed the Centre and the neighbouring state governments for their inaction to stop stubble burning and said that "Delhi will become a gas chamber".

New Delhi: In Delhi, the air quality Thursday remained very poor even as the blaze at the Bhalswa landfill site continued to smoulder. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 331 at 1pm. 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". Delhi Fire Service official said on Thursday that a fire tender was stationed at the landfill site as the fire is still smouldering. Fire has been raging at the massive dump site since October 20. However, by Tuesday evening, the flames were somewhat brought under control and parts of the landfill smouldered, DFS officials had said. On Sunday, the AQI had oscillated between 'poor' and 'very poor' categories.On Saturday, a haze had engulfed the national capital and the worst air quality of this season was recorded at 324. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had flayed the Centre and the neighbouring state governments for their inaction to stop stubble burning and said that "Delhi will become a gas chamber". The stubble burning increased in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana, with environment activists asserting that farmers have intensified burning the crop residue protesting the lack of official support. (input from agencies)