Delhi air quality stays very poor ahead of Diwali
Pollution levels in the capital could reach the severe category between Friday and Sunday, according to forecasts.
Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor category for the fourth straight day on Thursday, according to Urban Acres. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 369.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) measured the AQI at 369 at 4 pm on Thursday. This was lower than the 377 recorded on Wednesday, but higher than the 350 on Tuesday and 324 on Monday.
The Air Quality Early Warning System warned that pollution might worsen into the severe category between Friday and Sunday. The system's six-day forecast suggests air quality could fluctuate between the very poor and severe categories during this period.
Of the active monitoring stations in the city, 18 recorded severe readings on Thursday. Jahangirpuri had the highest AQI of 454 at 4 pm.
The Decision Support System for air-quality management, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, estimated that crop-residue burning contributed 15.601 per cent to Delhi's pollution on Thursday. This figure is projected to rise to 19.201 per cent on Friday before dropping to 1.575 per cent on Saturday.
The system also noted that vehicle emissions contributed 15.5 per cent to pollution on Wednesday, while crop-residue burning accounted for 20.2 per cent that day.