Dikhyaa Mohanty 
For the sixth day in a row, Delhi-NCR’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category due to hazy weather and slow wind movement. Data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) show that on Thursday evening, Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 346. The AQI of Noida and Gurugram, two nearby cities of Delhi, did not improve. In the’very poor’ category, Noida’s AQI was recorded at 388, and its PM 10 concentration was recorded at 377. In the ‘poor’ category, Gurugram’s AQI was recorded at 350.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI at Anand Vihar in the nation’s capital hit the “severe” category with PM 2.5 at 437 and PM 10 at 449, while NO2 was recorded at 71 and CO at 102. At Bawana, levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were 452 and 436, respectively, falling into the “severe” category. CO and NO2 readings were 85 and 23, respectively. The PM 2.5 was recorded at 326, falling under the category of “very poor,” and the PM 10 was recorded at 424, under the “severe category,” at the Delhi Technical University (DTU) station. At DTU, the NO2 level was 93 and the CO was 74.
With PM 2.5 at 493 and PM 10 at 437, CO at 94, and NO2 at 49, the air quality in IGI was classified as “severe.” At ITO, PM 2.5 was measured to be 440, falling into the “severe” category, and PM 10 was recorded at 344, falling into the “very poor” category. On Thursday night, the CO was measured at 84 and the NO2 at 62. At Lodhi Road, the PM 2.5 concentration on the AQI fell into the “very poor” category at 324, while the PM 10 concentration fell into the “poor” category at 214.
In the’very poor’ category at IIT Delhi station, the PM 2.5 was recorded at 349, and the PM 10 was recorded at 212, in the ‘poor’ category. SAFAR’s forecast indicates that Delhi’s air quality will continue to decline, falling into the “very poor” category on Friday with PM 2.5 concentrations of 352 and PM 10 concentrations of 284 under the “poor” category. On Friday, it’s predicted to be either worse or about the same in Gurugram and Noida.
