Delhi continues to suffer ‘poor’ air

{ SECOND DAY IN A ROW

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

Smog at railway tracks in Dwarka on Wednesday.

(VIPIN KUMAR/HT)

Delhi's air quality remained in the “poor” category for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, with agencies forecasting “very poor” air quality on the day of Diwali, as meteorological conditions gradually begin to turn adverse

Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQl) was logged at 233 at 4pm on Wednesday, worse than Tuesday's reading of 211 (poor), according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB's) daily bulletin.

Experts attributed the deteriorating air quality toa combination of a drop in wind speeds, mist in the early hours of the day, and heavy traffic on roads. Adding firecracker emissions and stubble burning to the mix will worsen air quality around Diwali, they said.