Delhi Air Remains Poor for the Third Day; Vehicle Emissions are Major Contributors after Stubble Burning

New Delhi: Air quality in the national capital on Wednesday remained in the 'poor' category for the third consecutive day, with some monitoring stations recording 'very poor' and 'severe' levels in Delhi. The Centre’s Decision Support System for Air Quality Management in Delhi reported that transport emissions have significantly contributed to the worsening air in the city. About 19.2 per cent of vehicle emissions were among several factors leading to the poor air quality in Delhi. Another major factor is stubble burning in nearby states. Satellite data on Wednesday recorded 99 fire incidents in Punjab, 14 in Haryana, 59 in Uttar Pradesh, and one in Delhi.

Delhiites have already started feeling the effects of worsening air quality as the winter approaches. The Air Quality Index (AQI) reading was 230 at 4 am on Wednesday, down from 207 on Tuesday at the main monitoring station. ITO, Chandni Chowk and Lodhi Road stations recorded 'moderate' ranges, while Anand Vihar registered a severe level of 430. Meanwhile, Mundka station recorded a 'very poor' level of 327. Delhi Records Maximum Temp of 35 Degrees Celsius The maximum temperature on Wednesday was 35.4 degrees Celsius, which is 2.2 degrees above normal, according to the weather department. Relative humidity ranged between 78 per cent and 57 per cent, with the minimum temperature at 19 degrees Celsius, slightly below the season’s average. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a mostly clear sky for Thursday, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely around 34 and 18 degrees C.An AQI 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".