The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of Delhi Thursday remained in the ‘very poor’ category, but jumped by 65 points from Wednesday to reach 366 Thursday, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
In NCR, Ghaziabad and Noida had already touched ‘severe’ with an AQI of 416 and 402, while Gurgaon was in ‘poor’ range with 280.
As of 10 pm Thursday, five out of 35 monitoring stations in Delhi had recorded ‘severe’ air quality — meaning the air in these areas would “affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases” — while all others remained in the ‘very poor’ range.
The main factors working towards the deteriorating air quality are the extremely low wind speed and strong near-surface inversion during the stable night time.”
In other weather-related news, parts of South India will experience thunderstorms accompanied with lightning today. ‘Heavy rainfall’ is predicted in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.
Pollution levels in Delhi have risen and are in the very poor to severe category, Skymet Weather said. Until Nov 27, the conditions are likely to be worse. The air quality is likely to improve in Delhi and NCR.
Watch: Koksar in Lahaul and Spiti receives fresh snowfall
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The higher reaches of Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall on Friday, even as rains lashed plains of the valley, an official said. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district recorded about four inches of fresh snowfall during the night, the official said. He said there are reports of snowfall in other areas in the higher reaches of the valley, including at Zojilla Pass, Amarnath Cave, Sonamarg and Gurez. The official said the plains of the valley, including Srinagar, witnessed heavy rainfall. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain or snow in Kashmir and light rain or snow in Jammu and Ladakh regions over the next 24 hours. (PTI)
Heavy rainfall lashes parts of Puducherry.
The air quality in Delhi was in the 'very poor' category on Friday, improving slightly from the 'severe' level a day ago. The overall air quality index (AQI) was 364 at 9.30 am. The minimum temperature was 13 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year. The humidity level was 82 per cent at 8.30 am. (PTI)
As the Rajya Sabha debated the issue of air pollution in Delhi, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said the capital’s air quality has improved over the last three years and that the number of ‘good’ and ‘moderate’ days has increased. “As per continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations data, there is general improvement in air quality of Delhi,” Javadekar said. Read more
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that the isolated areas of Jammu and Kashmir will receive fresh snowfall along with heavy rainfall.
Air quality is expected to plunge to ‘severe’ category Friday, with calm surface level winds and low temperature being ineffective in dispersal of pollutants, air and weather monitoring agencies said. The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of Delhi Thursday remained in the ‘very poor’ category, but jumped by 65 points from Wednesday to reach 366 Thursday, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Read more