Delhi AQI in 'very poor' category due to low surface winds

New Delhi: The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was in the 'very poor' category on Friday with a reading of 331, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). According to SAFAR India, the overall Delhi air quality is in the lower end of the very poor category as forecasted.

"Surface winds are low and they are likely to marginally improve during day time. The ventilation is likely to stay in the same range and no significant change in AQI is expected in the next couple of days," it said.

"AQI is likely to stay in the very poor category for the next two days. It is likely to marginally improve to the lower end of very poor to poor category on February 15," it also added.

The US Embassy in Delhi showed an AQI reading of 313 in the hazardous category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) AQI reading was at 366 in the very poor category.

Surprisingly, Mumbai was also in the very poor category of AQI on Friday with a reading of 301.

Meanwhilw the Indian Meteorological Department tweeted that, "Dense to very dense fog in isolated pockets very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh and northwest Rajasthan in the morning hours of February 12 and 13 and dense fog in isolated pockets over the same area in the morning hours of February 14."

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