• By Kamal Kumar
  • Sat, 11 Nov 2023 07:49 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Delhi AQI Live:  The air quality in Delhi-NCR (AQI) experienced significant improvement owing to the light rain showers on Friday. The intermittent rain showers helped the city take a fresh breath amid the continuously falling air quality for the past couple of weeks. The drizzles freed the city skylines from the suffocating smog blanket, whereas, the suspended particles such as PM 2.5 and PM 10 have also decreased in the air.

Despite some decrease in particulate matter and better visibility, the Delhi-NCR AQI remained in the 'severe' category in some parts of the city. At 6 am on Saturday, the AQI of the national capital stood at 339, according to the data by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The Air Quality Index (AQI), which had earlier reached the 'severe' and 'severe plus' levels, saw a significant decrease, signalling a shift from 'moderate' to 'poor' air quality in many regions. At specific places such as in Anand Vihar AQI stood at 282, in RK Puram at 220, in Punjabi Bagh at 236 and in ITO at 263, depicting a significant improvement.

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As Diwali festivities began on Saturday, the short-term respite might take a hit in the coming days, as people will resort to the bursting of celebratory firecrackers. According to PTI, air quality can further improve on Saturday as favourable wind speeds can disperse the pollutants. The wind speed is projected to rise to approximately 15 kilometres per hour on Saturday, aiding in the dispersal of pollutants before Diwali on November 12.

Meteorological officials from the IMD also mentioned that a shift in wind direction from northwest to southeast, influenced by a new western disturbance impacting northwest India, would contribute to a reduction in smoke from stubble burning.

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Delhi government, while deliberating the use of an odd-even formula to curb pollution, enacted Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the national capital after the city's air quality plummeted to the 'severe plus' category. The Delhi government has deployed ministers to oversee the enforcement of anti-pollution measures. On Thursday, various ministers were seen inspecting different areas and the borders linking Delhi to nearby states.