New Delhi, 25 Dec (UNI) Delhi residents woke up to the cleanest air the city has seen in nearly 50 days on Christmas morning, offering rare relief after weeks of hazardous pollution levels that have persisted since Diwali.
At 8.05 am on Wednesday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 220, its lowest since early November, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marked a sharp improvement from the city’s 24-hour rolling average AQI of 271 recorded at 4 pm on Tuesday.
The sudden drop in pollution levels was driven by strong overnight winds that set in late Tuesday, aiding the dispersion of accumulated pollutants. Wind speeds gusting up to 22 kmph helped bring down the AQI significantly after it fluctuated in the ‘severe’ category earlier in the week, rising from 373 on Monday to 412 on Tuesday, before registering a steep overnight decline.
Earlier, the AQI levels hovered closer to the lower end of the ‘poor’ category on November 5, with AQI readings reported as 202, according to data on Sameer app.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday lifted Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), just hours after strong overnight winds pushed air quality in the Capital into the ‘poor’ category. The decision came despite forecasts indicating a possible deterioration in air quality in the coming days. However, restrictions under GRAP Stages I, II and III will continue to remain in force.
Delhi breathes cleanest air in 50 days, AQI drops to 220
