New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality deteriorated on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 187 at 4pm, up from 90 on Friday and 159 on Saturday.
Officials attributed the rise in pollution levels to a lack of rain, slow wind speeds and localised emissions. The city had recorded the same AQI (187) on October 4. During the current season, Delhi saw an AQI higher than 187 earlier on July 13, when the AQI reached 246,according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. Of the 58 active air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, 21 recorded air quality in the poor category. The CPCB data shows that the ITO air quality monitoring station fared worst, with the AQI in the ‘severe’ category at 425, followed by Vivek Vihar station at 261, Siri Fort and Jahangirpuri stations at 257, JLN stadium at 246. The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) bulletin states that there has been rise in maximum temperature by 1-2°C and fall in minimum temperature by 1-2°C during the last 24 hours. The maximum temperature was in the range of 30-33°C and the minimum in the range 18-19°C respectively. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 18.6 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature of 31.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD has forecast similar weather conditions over the next few days, with minimum temperature hovering around 18-20 degrees Celsius.
Daytime temperature are expected to rise to 32-34 degrees Celsius between Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Delhi is likely to receive no rain over the next week with clear skies.
