Delhi chokes as air quality deteriorates further

The national capital on Monday, October 29, was enveloped in a thick blanket of haze with the minimum temperature recorded at 15.5 degrees Celsius, the season's average, while the air quality continued to deteriorate.

"The sky will remain clear throughout the day," said an India Meteorological Department official.

The maximum temperature was likely to hover around 31 degrees Celsius. The humidity at 8.30am was 83%.

Delhi recorded its worst air quality of the season on Sunday, October 28, with the highest reading of 381, whereas an average reading of 348 of PM (particulate matter) 2.5 and 10 recorded at 9am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The situation is not set to change any sooner, while it may only get worse towards Diwali, warned CPCB.

The air quality spiralled into the "severe" category in Jahangirpuri in north Delhi, Mundka in West Delhi, Dwarka sub-city in south Delhi and Anand Vihar in east Delhi.

Sunday's maximum temperature settled at 32.1 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 15.6 degrees Celsius, both the season's average.

An overall Air Quality Index of 348 was recorded which falls in the very poor category, according to data of the Central Pollution Control Board.  Twenty-nine monitoring stations located in different parts of the city recorded very poor air quality while four stations recorded severe air quality.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

Authorities have attributed the deterioration of air quality to localised factors like construction activities and vehicular pollution as well as regional factors like pollution by stubble burning from neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

A thick smog engulfed the national capital as authorities said the situation may further deteriorate next month during the festival.

According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research, the pollution is likely to increase to the upper levels of very poor but will not touch "severe" level for the next two days.  "This is owing to stagnation conditions forced by calm winds with low ventilation and moderate stubble injection," according to the SAFAR.

SAFAR data also showed that less stubble burning has taken place in the last two days as compared to last Thursday and Friday when highest pollution stubble burning took place since October 11.

On Thursday, 36% pollution of PM2.5  (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) by stubble burning was recorded in the national capital.

On Monday, 17% share of biomass (stubble burning emission) was recorded in the overall level of PM2.5 of Delhi.

Meanwhile, SAFAR has also issued a health advisory due to increase in the pollution level of the city.

The health advisory is specifically for people suffering from heart or lung disease, older adults and children to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.

It also recommended people go for shorter walks instead of jogs, keeping windows closed,  and wearing masks while stepping outside.