Delhi pollution: Air quality is now ‘very poor, but that’s an improvement

New Delhi: People commute through dense smog in New Delhi on Monday morning. The air pollution in Delhi NCR continues to be above the hazardous level. PTI Photo

Delhi’s air quality index dropped to 308 on Tuesday, the best so far this month. The city has been reeling under severely polluted air quality since November 7, owing partly to calm winds. While the Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index read 460 on a scale of 500 on Monday, it dropped significantly on Tuesday.

The AQI had reached 486 on Thursday, the highest in several months. According to officials at the India Meteorological Department, light winds will continue on Wednesday as well, and are expected to disperse more pollutants.

The forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, which is calculated by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, said Wednesday’s air quality is expected to improve. On Thursday, too, it is expected to be in the ‘very poor’ range. Emergency measures are supposed to be implemented once the air quality index crosses the 500-mark.