AQI improves after consistent winds, may worsen after Oct 15

Air quality in the Capital improved marginally on Sunday, a day after it nearly entered the “poor” category after consistent winds.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

Average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 167 (moderate) on Sunday, against 199 on Saturday, due to consistent winds of 10-15 km per hour.

However, the share of stubble burning in the total pollution marginally rose to 0.8% on Sunday from 0.4% a day before, as per the Centre’s Decision Support System (DSS).

“Delhi's air quality is very likely to be in the ‘moderate’ category from October 13 to 14 and in the ‘poor’ category on October 15,” as per the air quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, which comes under the ministry of Earth sciences. It added that the AQI is likely to stay “poor” after October 15, for another six days.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies air quality on a scale where 0-50 is good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe.