Obnoxious haze and air quality plunging into the ‘severe’ category on Tuesday again reminded Delhiites of the week after Diwali. As had been earlier forecast by experts at Skymet, this rise in pollution levels could be traced back to unfavorable weather conditions clubbed with rise in the instances of farm fires in adjoining states. After breathing relatively bad air yesterday with considerably low visibility levels, national capital Delhi is again set to breathe similar, even worse air today as well tomorrow.
The average AQI on Tuesday was 425 (‘severe’), a big fall from Monday’s 360 (‘very poor’). Not just Delhi but almost all other cities in the NCR including Ghaziabad,Faridabad, Noida, Gurugram also pointed towards ‘severe’ air.
No immediate recovery from the pollution seems in sight as weather conditions continue to remain unfavorable with low surface winds, dipping temperatures and blowing northwesterly winds taking along smoke of farm fires towards Delhi region. The sky might remain cloudy in wake of an approaching Western Disturbance but no rain is being forecast.
As a step forward to counter air pollution, the government has already banned fuel-based industries in the city. The ban has also been extended to hot-mix plants and stone-crushers in Delhi-NCR till the morning of November 14. Already odd-even scheme is ongoing in Delhi November 4 onward.
The condition may improve slightly from November 15.
Image Credits – The Statesman
Any information taken from here should be credited to Skymet Weather