Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates to ‘Very Poor’

Delhi's air quality has slipped back into the 'very poor' category for the second time this month, recording an AQI of 305 on Wednesday. This follows an AQI of 339 on February 4. The Central Pollution Control Board classifies 301-400 as 'very poor'. Air quality is expected to remain 'poor' from February 12-14. Meanwhile, day and minimum temperatures, though slightly fluctuating, remained above normal, with no rainfall recorded.

Delhi’s air quality has significantly deteriorated, falling into the ‘very poor’ category on Wednesday with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 305. This marks the second instance this month, the first being on February 4 when the AQI hit 339. The previous days saw AQI values of 271 on Tuesday and 249 on Monday, categorizing them as 'poor'. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classification, an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered ‘very poor’. The Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts that the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ category from February 12 to 14.Simultaneously, the city experienced a slight drop in day temperatures, although they largely remained above normal. Safdarjung, the primary monitoring station, recorded a maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees Celsius, which is 4.1 notches above the seasonal average. Palam reported 25.4 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road registered 27.1 degrees. Minimum temperatures also stayed above normal across the city, with Safdarjung recording 13.2 degrees Celsius, three notches higher than usual. Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, and Ayanagar all reported minimums considerably above their respective normals. No rainfall was observed in any part of the city during the 24-hour period ending 5:30 pm, with cumulative rainfall remaining at zero. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a minor dip in minimum temperatures over the next two days, followed by a subsequent rise.