Delhi air quality stays very poor ahead of Diwali
Pollution levels in the capital could reach the severe category between Friday and Sunday, according to forecasts.
Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor category for the fourth straight day on Thursday, according to Urban Acres. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 369.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) measured the AQI at 369 on Thursday, which was lower than the 377 recorded on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the average AQI was 350, while Monday saw a reading of 324.
The Air Quality Early Warning System warned that pollution might worsen into the severe category between Friday and Sunday. The CPCB defines the very poor category as readings between 301 and 400, while the severe category ranges from 401 to 500.
On Thursday, 18 active monitoring stations in the city reported severe pollution levels. Jahangirpuri recorded the highest AQI of 454 at 4 pm.
The Decision Support System for air-quality management, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, estimated that crop-residue burning contributed 15.601 per cent to Delhi's pollution on Thursday. This contribution is expected to rise to 19.201 per cent on Friday before dropping to 1.575 per cent on Saturday.
Vehicle emissions contributed 15.5 per cent to the city's pollution on Wednesday. The Air Quality Early Warning System's forecast period continues from Friday to Sunday.