Post: Post Date – 12:15 PM, Tuesday – November 1st
A man carried a sack on the road in front of India Gate amid smog in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo by Money SHARMA/AFP)
New Delhi: Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI) is on the verge of “severe” after deteriorating to 398 on Tuesday, according to official data.
Carbon monoxide (CO) levels have risen in some areas as air quality in the capital has fallen, posing a threat to children and the elderly, the System for Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said.
According to SAFAR data, PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations were 398 and 392, respectively, both in the same “very poor” category.
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” .
Noida’s AQI is 462 under the “severe” category, while in Gulgram it is 398 under the “very poor” category.
The “critical” category requires health warnings for emergencies that even pose a serious respiratory risk to the public.
On Anand Vihar, Pusa and Mathura Road, the AQIs were 449, 408 and 421, all in the ‘severe’ category.
On Lodhi Road, the air quality was recorded at 369 or “very poor”.
Air quality in the capital will deteriorate further on Wednesday, according to SAFAR forecasts.
