PM levels still severe, respite likely tomorrow

According to a SAFAR forecast, wind is expected to pick up on Friday and help disperse pollutants

Concentration levels of particulate matter in Delhi’s air remained well over eight times the safe amount on Thursday, with weather and pollution monitoring agencies forecasting an improvement on Saturday.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index (AQI) at 4 p.m. was 486, in the severe category. It was an increase from Wednesday’s 478 and Tuesday’s 448 — both also in the severe category.

In fact, the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 during the evening was 546 micrograms per cubic metre, or over nine times the standard of 60, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) index of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences. PM2.5 are particularly dangerous particles as they have a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, making them small enough to get embedded in the lungs.

As per SAFAR, the average level of PM10, the slightly coarser particles, was 895 micrograms per cubic metre, or over eight times the standard of 100.

Still conditions

According to a SAFAR forecast, the anticyclone over north India with its centre over Delhi had caused still conditions. But, from Friday afternoon onwards, wind is expected to pick up and help disperse pollutants. SAFAR’s report said that the air quality would still be between very poor to severe over the weekend. The PM levels were forecast to reduce.