Delhi gasped for breath on yet another day as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the ‘poor’ category, even though it recorded a slight improvement on Sunday.
The overall AQI was also ‘poor’, docking at 239, according to weather forecaster SAFAR.
At 9 am on Sunday morning, the AQI was recorded at 253 (‘poor’ category) around India Gate. At Chandni Chowk area, the PM 10 was at 246 which is again in the ‘poor’ category while the PM 2.5 levels were at 328 in the ‘very poor’ category.
The PM 10 levels were slightly better at Lodhi Road, docking in at 135 which falls in the ‘moderate’ category while the PM 2.5 remained ‘poor’ at 235.
On Saturday, the AQI was in the ‘very poor’ category for the third consecutive day. The overall AQI was recorded to be 326.
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Pollution Watch brings you the measure of Air Quality Index (AQI) in major cities across the country.
The AQI is measured by taking into account the PM (particulate matter). The pollution of a place is measured either in PM10 or PM2.5, depending on which particle is more dominant in the air in that place.
PM10 is the particle which is 10 micrometers or less in diameter and PM2.5 is the finer particle with a diameter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less.
PM2.5 is considered more harmful since it is finer and can travel more deeply into the lungs and cause very harmful effects. These tiny particles in the air reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when their levels are high.
| 0-30 | Good | |
| 31- 60 | Satisfactory | |
| 61- 90 | Moderate | |
| 91- 120 | Poor | |
| 121- 250 | Very Poor | |
| Beyond 250 | Severe |
*All levels are measured in PM2.5
DELHI
Mandir Marg- 244
Rohini- 279
RK Puram- 226
ITO- 246
Dwarka- 294
HARYANA
Gurugram- 169
Faridabad- 212
Rohtak- 179
MUMBAI
Lower Parel- 185
Powai- 142
Bandra- 114
Worli- 199
BENGALURU
BTM Layout- 66
Silk Board- 61
Hebbal- 87
Peenya- 49
The pollution level figures are as per the data taken on Sunday between 12:30- 1:30 noon IST unless mentioned otherwise. The NGT has formed a committee to look for ways to combat the growing hazards for air pollution in Delhi.