New Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 226 at 7 am on Thursday, October 22, falling in the 'poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported by ANI. It was the capital's second straight poor-air morning, a day after Delhi recorded its first 'poor' air quality day of the season as a thick layer of haze engulfed parts of the city following overnight Dussehra celebrations.

Source: ANI via Latestly

Two monitoring stations crossed into 'very poor': Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 309 and Chandni Chowk 307. Stations in the 'poor' range included Alipur (273), Anand Vihar (237), Ashok Vihar (223), Bawana (275), Patparganj (298), Rohini (291), Wazirpur (253), Akshardham (237) and ITO (280), according to CPCB data cited by ANI.

Delhi's air had deteriorated sharply through Wednesday: the AQI surged to 238 at 10 am that day, a jump of 59 points from Tuesday afternoon's reading of 179, which was in the 'moderate' category.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday invoked Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR after its Sub-Committee on GRAP reviewed the air quality scenario in the region. The Stage-1 curbs remain in force, and the Delhi Metro has added 20 extra train trips on weekdays to encourage public transport use while the curbs apply.

IANS reported a slight morning and evening chill in Delhi-NCR on Thursday while air pollution continued to remain a concern, with several monitoring stations recording poor air quality and some areas reporting very poor conditions — matching the CPCB picture carried by ANI.

Source: IANS via HiIndia