At 492 AQI, Delhi-NCR Air Quality Plunges to 'Severe' Category; Primary Schools to Remain Shut Until Monday

“This is the lowest visibility for the day. No considerable change is expected later during the day either as wind speeds are unlikely to be beyond five km per hour,” said an India Metrological Department official.

Due to the deteriorating pollution levels, schools for students in Classes 5 and below will remain closed on both Friday and Saturday.

The air quality in various areas of Delhi plunged into the 'severe' category on Friday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Mundka registered the highest Air Quality Index (498).

At Anand Vihar the the PM 2.5 and PM 10 were at 500, while NO2 was recorded at 76, under 'satisfactory' level and CO at 113 in 'moderate category', as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

At Bawana, the PM 2.5 reached 500 while PM 10 was at 499, both under ‘severe’ category, while the CO was recorded at 113, in 'moderate' category and NO2 was at 34, in 'satisfactory' levels.

The station at Delhi Technical University (DTU) recorded the PM 10 at 500, under ‘severe category’, while the PM 2.5 was at 376, under the ‘very poor’ category. The CO at the university was at 110 and the NO2 reached 103 under the 'moderate' category.

The PM 2.5 at ITO was recorded at 468 putting it in the ‘severe’ category and PM 10 reached 409 placing it also under ‘severe’ category. The NO2 was at 148 and the CO was recorded at 110 on Friday morning, both under 'moderate' category.

At Lodhi Road, the AQI with PM 2.5 concentration was at 464 under the 'severe' category and the CO reached 113 under 'moderate' category.

The AQI of Delhi’s neighbouring cities of Noida and Gurugram was no better.

While Noida’s AQI stood at 388 and the PM 10 concentration was at 377 both under 'very poor' category, Gurugram's AQI was reported at 350 under 'very poor' category and the PM 10 concentration was at 233 under 'poor' category.

The AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

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The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.