Delhi's air quality drops to 'very poor' with AQI 312

New Delhi: The national capital's air quality declined further from 'poor' on Monday to 'very poor' on Tuesday, as the overall air quality index (AQI) reached 312, Asian News International reported, citing System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) update.

PM 2.5 and PM 10 were at 135 and 232 in the 'very poor' and 'moderate' categories. SAFAR predicts maximum temperatures and windspeed to increase gradually during January 18, 19 and 20, which might power up ventilation and might improve air quality, but AQI will remain 'very poor'. From January 21, sift winds are predicted, improving air quality, SAFAR predicts.

Noida was the worst of all in the capital with AQI at 341, and Gurugram with relief with AQI 280, remains at 'poor'.

AQI figures between zero ad 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 is 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), however, predicted rainfall for Delhi national capital region from Friday night due to a looming western disturbance over North India. Hailstorms might occur in Punjab, Haryana, while Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Lucknow might witness dense fog on Tuesday.

According to IMD, there is also a possibility of hail storms in Punjab and Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Lucknow will likely see dense fog on Tuesday. It also predicts cold waves over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan during the next two days. Due to the western disturbance, the weather would improve from January 19, the national weather agency said.