Delhi's air quality in very poor category despite rain

Delhi Air Pollution: Despite light rain, the air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Thursday morning, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 318, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). According to SAFAR, the concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 143 in the 'very poor' and 228 in the 'moderate' category respectively. Rainfall and gusty winds have been projected in the SAFAR's bulletin on Friday which may improve the AQI. "AQI today indicates 'Very Poor' air quality and likely to improve as relatively high wind speed enhance dispersion of pollutants. Tomorrow rainfall is likely to occur with a gusty wind that is expected to improve AQI to 'lower end of Very Poor' or 'Poor' through wet deposition and strong dispersion," read the bulletin. Furthermore, from February 4 onwards the air quality will gradually degrade as the rate of accumulation of pollutants is likely to be more than that of ventilation, as per the SAFAR bulletin. Also Read | Coronavirus Update: India sees marginal rise in Covid-19 cases The bulletin further advised people belonging to sensitive groups to avoid all physical outdoor activities. Meanwhile, with AQIs of 326 and 313, respectively, the air quality in Noida and Gurugram remains in the 'very poor' category. According to government data, an AQI of zero to 50 is labelled 'good,' 51 to 100 is considered 'satisfactory,' 101 to 200 is considered 'moderate,' 201 to 300 is considered 'poor,' 301 to 400 is considered 'very poor,' and 401 to 500 is deemed 'severe.' Earlier on Thursday, Delhi witnessed a light shower of rain which lowered the minimum temperature in the city to 11 degrees Celsius. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a partly cloudy sky and light rain with thunderstorms in the national capital on the day. It also forecasts mild to moderate rainfall on February 3 and 4 across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh, with the highest intensity on February 3. "Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain and wind speed of 20-30 kmph would occur over and adjoining areas of isolated places of entire Delhi and NCR (Hindon, Loni Dehat, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram) during the next two hours," IMD tweeted. Also Read | Travel groups ask Joe Biden to end Covid-19 testing for vaccinated US-bound passengers -PTC News