The smug-shrouded Delhi continues to witness a further deterioration in the air quality on Sunday.
The authorities warned that due to a fall in temperature, dispersion of pollutants will slow down and the pollution level might further increase in the next two days.
The pollution watchdog Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 377, thereby marking the highest pollution level in nearly 20 days.
The reports reveal that Ghaziabad, Noida, and Faridabad possess ‘severe’ air quality.
Seven other areas namely Anand Vihar, Mundka, R K Puram, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, Jahangirpuri and Nehru Nagar recorded “severe” air quality while 20 other areas fall in the dismal ‘very poor’ category.
According to the reports, the overall PM 2.5 level which defines the presence of fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometers was observed at 221 and the PM 10 level at 389.
The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) which monitors the AQI of Indian cities predicted the overall air quality of Delhi will continue to slump over the next two days.
It stated, “Winds are calm and dispersion is low. Western disturbances influence may impact Delhi’s air quality by introducing the moisture and making air heavy. The expected fall in temperature and moderate fog is likely to increase pollution overcoming two days is expected to the upper level of very poor.”
Highlighting the silver lining to this cloud, SAFAR added that the air quality might improve on Wednesday if a sufficient amount of rainfall occurs, which is expected.
It also clarified, “However, marginal shower often deteriorates air quality because of high moisture content over shadows the washout effect. In all probability, the AQI will remain within the limit of very poor and will not touch severe.”