New Delhi: Delhiites have got some respite from severe air pollution. The air quality of the national capital has improved dramatically, recording 178 on Wednesday, the lowest AQI in 50 days. This was only the fifth cleanest day of the city during December since 2020. As per the Air Quality Early Warning System, Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘moderate’ category till Thursday. However, it may worsen to ‘poor’ on Friday.
The improved air quality has brought happiness to the faces of people, offering much-needed reprieve from the severe pollution levels. People of the city last experienced a cleaner day on October 22, when the AQI was recorded at 155; after that, the pollution levels crossed all limits. A long queue of people could be seen in the hospitals for the treatment of pollution-related diseases. Respirator issues and lung infections were common among the illnesses.
Strong wind played a key role in mitigating air pollution. Weather analysts believe that the strong wind in the city may continue for another couple of days. Delhi experienced wind speeds of 15-20 km/h on Wednesday; its direction was northwesterly. Consistently stronger winds coming from the same direction led to an improvement in the air quality,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice chairman, meteorology and climate change, Skymet.
Weather experts think that a westerly disturbance may bring rain next week. ‘A western disturbance might be active in coming days. Chances of snowfall may take place from December 8-10 and rain in several states like Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. There are chances that the rain might also occur in Delhi. Post these rains, the temperature may fall, said Palawat.
