Delhi: Air quality in the national capital continued to be a concern on Sunday morning, with pollution levels remaining in the ‘poor’ range even as weather conditions stayed largely stable.
The city recorded a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, marginally higher than the seasonal norm by 0.2 degrees, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Clear skies are expected to prevail through the day, and the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 29 degrees Celsius.
Humidity levels were relatively high in the morning, touching 89 per cent at 8:30 am, which may contribute to the persistence of pollutants in the air.
Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 242 at 9 am. This places the air quality in the ‘poor’ category, indicating that prolonged exposure could cause discomfort to people with respiratory issues.
As per the CPCB classification, an AQI reading between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.
Authorities have advised vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and those with lung or heart conditions, to limit outdoor activities until air quality improves.
