Delhi air quality improves slightly, AQI moves from 'severe' to 'very poor'

In a slight relief to Delhiites, the air quality in the national capital registered some improvement as air pollutions levels dipped on Monday. The AQI has now moved from 'severe' to 'very poor' category.

Experts have attributed the improvement to moderate surface winds dispersing surface pollutants.

"The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi this morning improved to "Very Poor" category from the "Severe" category that it had been for the past few days. The air quality is likely to remain in the same category for the next two days," said System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

PM10 pollutants were recorded at 237 and PM2.5 pollutants were recorded at 158, SAFAR said

The agency predicted a slight increase in pollutants for Tuesday and further improvement is expected on January 20 in the lower end from the 'Very Poor' to 'Poor' category.

The national capital also continued to witness dense to moderate fog with low visibility.

Visibility levels in Palam and Safdarjung parts of the city recorded at 500 meters, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The Met Department has predicted that the current spell of Dense to Very Dense Fog across Indo-Gangetic plains is very likely to reduce during next two to three days with likely occurrence of Dense to Very Dense Fog in isolated to some pockets very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi among other areas.

The minimum temperature at Safdarjung was recorded at 9 degree Celsius.

Several trains, including Dibrugarh-New Delhi Special, Saharsa-New Delhi, Prayagraj-Delhi Specials were running late according to the Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO), Northern Railways.

(With ANI inputs)