Delhi freezes with low visibility, AQI at very poor levels for third straight day

From January 9 till January 11, the air quality in the national capital was in the 'satisfactory' category only to slip to 'moderate' levels on January 12. Since Friday (January 14), the air quality deteriorated to the very poor category with an AQI of 312.

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category for the third consecutive day with an overall air quality index (AQI) of 301 being recorded on Sunday morning, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

Delhi's air quality has been in the 'very poor' category since January 14. (ANI file photo)

From January 9 till January 11, the air quality in the national capital was in the 'satisfactory' category only to slip to 'moderate' levels on January 12. Since Friday (January 14), the air quality deteriorated to the very poor category with an AQI of 312.

According to government agencies, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

In neighbouring Gurugram and Noida, the AQI stood at 204 (poor category) and 309 (very poor category) respectively.

Meanwhile, Delhi is freezing amid the ongoing cold wave with Sunday's temperature plummeting to 10°Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

On Saturday, the maximum temperature dipped to 14.8°C, nearly five degrees below normal, and a minimum temperature of 6.1°C, a degree below normal.

Also, the IMD said visibility in the capital was at 1000m, which is considered a 'shallow fog'. However, the Safdarjung Observatory showed visibility of 500m which is categorised as a 'moderate fog'.

Earlier, the weather bureau had said that ‘dense to moderate fog’ is predicted in Delhi for the next four days.