Rain brings down pollution levels in Delhi, air quality remains in ‘poor’ category

After Friday's rainfall, Delhi experienced a slight improvement in air quality on Saturday, transitioning from the 'Very Poor' category to the 'Poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).At 7 am on Saturday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings were 295 for Anand Vihar, 230 for RK Puram, 244 for Punjabi Bagh, and 263 for ITO.Despite the brief relief offered by the recent rains, concerns persist about Delhi's air quality. The overall air quality in Delhi at 7 am on Friday was 407, according to data by the government's air-quality monitoring agency, SAFAR.The Air Quality Index recorded at 10 am was 361, which, according to the index range, falls in the 'Very Poor' category but showed a slight improvement from the "Severe" category.According to the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), two stations recorded 'severe'' AQI. Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium had an AQI of 407 at 10 am on Friday.Pollutant levels of PM 2.5 and PM10 saw a decline after 4 am across the national capital and its surroundings.The weather forecast for the next two days post-Diwali includes a partly cloudy sky with mist or shallow fog in the mornings, followed by a clear sky with shallow fog in the mornings for the subsequent two days.The Delhi government is actively pursuing anti-pollution measures, exploring the possibility of 'artificial rain' to address the pollution issue. Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is currently in effect in the national capital.Expressing serious concerns over hazardous air quality, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed an immediate halt to stubble burning by farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, identifying it as a major contributor to air pollution.With inputs from ANI