Air quality slightly better, chances of rain today

In certain parts of Delhi-NCR, wind speeds were as high as 30 to 40kmph, improving air quality in neighbouring cities like Delhi and Faridabad as well.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) reading in the city on Saturday stood at 232 as per the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) AQI bulletin, down from 294 the previous day. Officials said this was due to high velocity winds (up to 15kmph), blowing from the west, enabling long-range transportation of dust and particulate matter pollutants.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) reading in the city on Saturday stood at 232 as per the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) AQI bulletin, down from 294 the previous day.

The level of PM2.5 on Friday stood at 285ug/m3, but fell to 217ug/m3 on Saturday. In certain parts of Delhi-NCR, wind speeds were as high as 30 to 40kmph, improving air quality in neighbouring cities like Delhi and Faridabad as well.

The maximum ventilation index for Delhi-NCR on Saturday was 24,900m2/s, and is predicted to be 25,000m2/s on Sunday. A minimum of 6,000m2/s is required for effective dispersal of pollutants.

With predictions of rain on polling day, however, pollution levels stand to drop and enter the ‘moderate’ category.

According to the India Meteorological Department, temperatures in the city have also seen a dip over the past two days, indicative of incoming showers or dust storms.

From 41.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, the mercury dropped to 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday and is expected to drop further in the event of rain.

According to forecasts by the CPCB’s Central Control Room for Air Quality Management in Delhi, air quality stands to improve across the NCR today.

Gurugram’s predicted score on the AQI bulletin is 190 (‘moderate’).

Air quality in Delhi, Faridabad, Rohtak, Noida and Ghaziabad is also predicted to enter the ‘moderate’ category due to rain, which acts as a cleaning agent and flushes particulate matter out of the air.