Delhi's air quality remains in 'very poor' category*

NEW DELHI: Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning, with the overall air quality index (AQI) at 322, the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting Research (SAFAR) data said.

According to the data in SAMEER — a software that provides updates on the air quality index published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — Anand Vihar (435), Chandni Chowk (423), Patparganj (402) and Jahangirpuri (428) areas have AQIs of more than 400.

In the adjoining areas of Delhi, the AQI, as per SAMEER, was 446 in Ghaziabad, Gurugram (374), Faridabad (367) and Greater Noida (393).

According to SAFAR, Mumbai's overall AQI was 80 on Saturday morning and Ahmedabad recorded an AQI of 52.

An AQI between zero 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.

Meanwhile, the air quality in the National Capital improved marginally on Friday due to light rains in the city and adjoining areas.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president (Meteorology and Climate Change), Skymet Weather, said light rains continued throughout the day on Thursday in many parts of northwest India, especially east Punjab, Haryana, west and central Uttar Pradesh.

"The rain led to a marginal improvement in the air quality," he said.

Another western disturbance is approaching northwest India. The air quality may improve if it gives moderate rainfall over the region, Palawat added.

He said the wind speed will pick up on Monday when western disturbance withdraws from the region resulting in an improvement in the air quality.

The India Meteorological Department had said the city recorded a minimum temperature of 12.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal.

Moderate fog and slow wind on Saturday may compound the air pollution problem.

Delhi's air quality this November was the worst for the month in seven years with the city witnessing severe pollution on 11 days and not a single day of "moderate" or "better" air quality, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.