Severe pollution in six areas, air quality worsens

New Delhi: Air quality in national capital deteriorated further with six areas recording severe pollution as authorities predicted further rise in the next two days.

 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 352, which falls in the very poor category. Six areas — Ashok Vihar, Anand Vihar, Burari, Mundaka, Nehru Nagar and Wazirpur — recorded severe air quality, according to the CPCB.

Twenty-five areas of the national capital recorded very poor air quality, while in four areas it was in the poor category.

The PM2.5 (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometre) level was recorded at 208 and the PM10 level at 397, it added.

Ghaziabad recorded severe pollution level at 404 while Faridabad and Noida recorded very poor air quality, according to the CPCB data.

In Gurgaon, the air quality was poor. The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said the air quality index dropped speedily as expected, but remained very poor.

“Although increasing-AQI trend is predicted from tonight (Tuesday night) for the next two days, it will remain in “very poor” range only. This is mainly due to decline in wind speed along with adverse meteorological conditions. The contribution from long-range dust or stubble biomass is negligible,” the SAFAR said.