New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) The city’s air quality hovered near the severe category on Thursday, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 391, showing no improvement from the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
On Wednesday, the AQI was 392 at 4 pm and remained at similar levels through the day due to calm winds.
According to CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, while 51 to 100 is ‘satisfactory’. The levels climb from ‘moderate’ (101-200) to ‘poor’ (201-300), before entering the ‘very poor’ band (301-400). Any reading from 401 to 500 is classified as ‘severe’, where prolonged exposure can cause respiratory illness even in healthy individuals.
Air quality monitors across the city painted an even grimmer picture. Eighteen of the 39 monitoring stations recorded AQI levels in the ‘severe’ zone — a category reserved for readings above 400 and associated with serious health risks.
Among the worst-hit locations were Wazirpur (451), Jahingirpuri (445), Ashok Vihar (424), Bawana (434), Delhi Technological University (DTU) (428), Rohini (438), Vivek Vihar (423), and Mundka (437), all of which reported readings exceeding the 400 mark.
The foul air was accompanied by slightly elevated temperatures. The minimum temperature for the national capital increased to 11.4°C, marking a mild increase from Wednesday’s 10.2°C, yet was nearly a degree below the season’s average.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the relative humidity at 8:30 am was 99%, adding to the hazy conditions. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 28.3°C later in the day.
