Relief for Delhi residents! Air quality improves drastically to 'moderate' category

In some good news for Delhi residents, the air quality of the capital has drastically improved to 'moderate' category on Sunday. This significant improvement comes a day after Delhi's air quality levels were recorded in the 'poor' category.

The government-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said on Sunday that the overall air quality of Delhi has drastically improved to the higher end of the satisfactory category. At 8am on Sunday, Delhi's AQI was docked at 129, which falls in the 'moderate' category.

AQI range between 51 and 100, 101 and 200, 201 and 300, 301 and 400, and 401 and 500 are categorised as satisfactory, moderate, poor, very poor and hazardous.

Major pollutants with PM 2.5 were detected at 115 in 'moderate' category, while PM 10 was at 221, which is 'poor' category in Lodhi Road area. In Chandni Chowk area, PM 10 was detected at 391 which is 'very poor' and 169 in Mathura Road area which is 'moderate' category.

According to SAFAR, the improvement in Delhi air quality has come as stubble burning activity in Haryana, Punjab and other nearby regions has remained same in the past three days but there has been a change in circulation pattern. However, things are expected to get worse as northwesterly wind are expected to change direction, dipping Delhi's air quality in the next couple of days.

Local emissions such as firecrackers, vehicles also need to be kept in check to improve Delhi's air quality levels.

Also read: Delhi air quality improves from 'very poor' to 'poor' on Saturday; may dip to 'severe' on Monday

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