Delhi: Air quality expected to be ‘very poor’ due to dust storm

The central government’s air quality forecasting agency SAFAR said that Delhi’s air quality plunged to ”very poor” on Wednesday and is expected to deteriorate further to ”severe” category due to dust storm in northwest India. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the air quality index (AQI) was at 341 on Wednesday which falls in ”very poor” category. Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Hits Southern Japan

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delhi’s air quality is expected to deteriorate further to ‘severe’ category due to dust storm in northwest India
• According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI in Delhi was recorded at 339
• An AQI between 301 and 400 is considered ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’

Delhi’s air quality very poor, expected to turn severe due to dust storm: SAFAR

An AQI between 0 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”.

The air quality is expected to get better with the possibility of a thunderstorm and gusty winds hitting the city on Friday evening, said a statement released by Safar.

“Air quality in the city is expected to remain at the upper end of the very poor category till Friday afternoon. However, thunderstorm and gusty winds triggered by an approaching Western Disturbance are expected to clear the air as well as bring the mercury down,” the statement said.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in the national capital was recorded at 339.

Gufran Beig, a scientist at SAFAR, said the whole of northwest Indian, including north Gujarat, Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi are going to be in the grip of dust storm from tonight.

He said, “As the storm dust is now arrested in Delhi and combining with local dust lifting, further deterioration of air quality is expected for today and tomorrow. Air quality is predicted to touch severe category late tonight and will continue to be so till May 10.”

Mr. Beig said that the “origin of the current episode” is widespread dust from dry arid west Rajasthan region due to high temperature and favourable wind speed.

He further added, “Most of the northwest region is going to have very poor to sever air quality during the next two days (till May 10). After that, Delhi’s air quality is expected to improve due to western disturbance and thunderstorm. But occasional episodes of sudden peaking of dust at isolated places in Delhi cannot be ruled out.”