Delhi’s Air Quality Remains Severe; Rain, Wind May Bring Relief

A jogger wears a pollution mask early morning amidst light smog in New Delhi.

(Photo: AP)

Delhi’s air quality remained ‘severe’ for the second day on Thursday, 12 December, with most localities recording an AQI of over 400 according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and India Meterological Department (IMD) data.

The national capital saw an aggregate AQI of severe 408 on Wednesday. It had been in the ‘very poor’ category for the past five days. Noida and Gurgaon also witnessed AQIs of over 400 on Thursday.

However, the IMD predicts rain and fast winds for Thursday and Friday in the national capital region, which may bring the pollution levels down again.

Delhi had seen dramatic improvement in the air quality during the last week of November as the AQI had reached 'satisfactory' category after seeing several days of ‘severe’.

There are six AQI categories according to the CPCB:

1. Good (0-50): Minimal impact
2. Satisfactory (51-100): Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people
3. Moderate (101-200): Breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases
4. Poor (201-300): Breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure
5. Very Poor (301-400): Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure
6. Severe (401-500): Affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases