Delhi's Air Quality Sees Improvement
Residents of Delhi received a significant reprieve on Saturday morning as the city's air quality transitioned from 'poor' to 'moderate.' The Air Quality Index (AQI) registered 185 at 9 AM, a notable improvement from Friday's 24-hour average of 230, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
This positive shift follows three consecutive days where the air quality remained in the 'poor' category. However, despite the overall improvement, 24 of Delhi's 58 monitoring stations still recorded 'poor' air quality, with PM2.5 identified as the dominant pollutant at 39 of these stations.
Minimum Temperatures Fall Across the Capital
In addition to the improved air quality, minimum temperatures also saw a drop across various parts of Delhi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted partly cloudy skies for the coming days, with maximum temperatures expected to range between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius.
- Safdarjung, representative of Delhi's weather, recorded a minimum temperature of 18.3 degrees Celsius.
- Ayanagar noted the lowest minimum at 17 degrees Celsius.
- Palam and Lodhi Road registered 17.6 degrees Celsius each.
Farm Fires Continue in Neighboring Regions
Meanwhile, satellite data from NASA revealed 545 farm fires in Punjab and Haryana between October 1 and 23. Of these, 473 were detected in Punjab and 72 in Haryana. On October 23 alone, 50 fires were recorded, a decrease from the 708 fires observed during the same period last year.
Experts caution that these figures may underestimate the actual number of farm fires, as satellite passes typically occur around 1:30 PM, while much of the stubble burning often takes place later in the day. This suggests that the lower count does not necessarily indicate a significant decline in the practice of farm burning.
Understanding AQI Categories
Under CPCB standards, air quality is classified as follows:
- Good: 0-50
- Satisfactory: 51-100
- Moderate: 101-200
- Poor: 201-300
- Very Poor: 301-400
- Severe: 401-500