The air quality in Delhi worsened to the “poor” level on Wednesday.
As of 8.15 am, the national capital recorded an average Air Quality Index of 230, showed the Sameer application that provides hourly updates published by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Forty-one of the 56 active monitoring stations recorded “poor” or worse air quality levels. At 318, the AQI in Pusa was the worst in Delhi.
This was the highest AQI in the national capital since mid-July.
In Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad recorded a “poor” AQI of 222, Greater Noida 248 and Noida 203, the application showed.
In Haryana, Gurugram recorded an average AQI of 204. Faridabad recorded an air quality level of 124, which is in the “moderate” category.
Air quality deteriorates sharply in the winter months in Delhi, which is often ranked the world’s most polluted capital. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicular pollution, along with the lighting of firecrackers during Diwali, falling temperatures, decreased wind speeds and emissions from industries and coal-fired plants contribute to the problem.
An index value between 0 and 50 indicates “good” air quality, between 51 and 100 indicates “satisfactory” air quality and between 101 and 200 indicates “moderate” air quality. As the index value increases further, air quality deteriorates. A value of 201 and 300 means “poor”...