New Delhi, 13 Nov (UNI) Residents of Delhi-NCR have been waking up to smog-laden mornings in recent days, as farm fires from neighbouring states, along with stagnant winds and falling temperatures, choke the city’s air, causing discomfort to citizens.
On Thursday, at 4 pm, the city’s 24-hour rolling average Air Quality Index (AQI) improved slightly at 404 while remaining in the ‘severe’ air category for the third day in a row.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI readings were higher on Wednesday and Tuesday’s touching 418 and 426, respectively.
In the past 24 hours, southwesterly winds prevailed over Delhi with wind speeds gusting up to 17 kmph, dispersing the pollutants.
At 426, Tuesday’s readings were the highest the city witnessed this winter season, with Delhi leading the national average, registering as the most polluted city as per CPCB data.
Meanwhile, Bahadurgarh’s AQI readings touched 466, topping the chart of the most polluted places across the nation, followed by Rohtak at 430.
Meanwhile, the NCR region, including Ghaziabad (370), Greater Noida (377), and Noida (389), also witnessed bad air days, figuring in the ‘very poor’ category that can cause respiratory illness over prolonged exposures.
Experts from the Air Quality Early Warning System have forecast that pollution levels in Delhi are likely to recede from Thursday onwards, falling to the ‘very poor’ category.
“The air quality is very likely to be in the ‘very poor’ category from November 13 – November 16. It may oscillate between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ category from November 17,” the statement said.
According to data from the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management in Delhi, the contribution of stubble burning to the Capital’s pollution is expected to rise over the next few days, reaching nearly 17 per cent from Friday onwards.
Transport emissions remain among the top contributors, accounting for 19.8 per cent of Delhi’s pollution on Thursday, much higher than stubble burning contribution for the day, which stood at 12.3 per cent — a trend likely to continue in the coming days, the data showed.
The weather department has predicted the smog and shallow fog across the Capital over the weekend during the morning hours, which is likely to intensify on Monday onwards. Meanwhile, no large change in minimum and maximum temperatures was noted in the city in the past 24 hours, recording a minimum of 10.6°C and a maximum of 27.7°C.
