Delhi Air Quality Remains 'Very Poor' For 5th Day, Mumbai's AQI In 'Poor' Category

Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 357 at 7 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s data.

Major cities in the country including Delhi and Mumbai are grappling with worsening air quality. 

Source : PTI

New Delhi: With the festive season just around the corner, major cities in the country, including Delhi and Mumbai are grappling with worsening air quality. 

Delhi's air quality remained in the "very poor" category for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday as shallow fog covered the city, while Mumbai, although in a better state, ranged in the “poor” category with an AQI of 150-200.

Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 357 at 7 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s data.

The AQI in the national capital remained in the very poor category for the fifth consecutive day while several areas like Anand Vihar, Bawana and Rohini entered the severe category.

Despite anti-pollution measures in the Winter plan announced by the Delhi government, the situation is yet to see an improvement. 

Earlier in the day, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the city government is implementing various measures to reduce the effect of increased pollution in the national capital.

Rai said that the government has stopped the entry of diesel buses into Delhi from today and also urged the state government to ply only CNG, Electric, or BS-VI buses from their depots to reduce the effect of increased pollution in the national capital.

The capital's air quality continues to slip deeper into the 'very poor' category primarily due to a dip in temperature and calm winds during the night. 

On Tuesday, Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 360, worsening from 347 on Monday. On Sunday it was 325 and 304 on Saturday, while it was 261 (poor) on Friday, the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed.

An AQI between zero 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. 

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in the national Capital on Wednesday settled at 16.4 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

However, the maximum temperature was recorded at 32.3 degrees Celsius.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the relative humidity at 5:30 pm stood at 48 per cent.