Delhi continued to reel under the streak of polluted winter days with the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Wednesday settling at 342, firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. The readings come after Tuesday’s AQI of 372 and Monday’s 304, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s 4 pm national bulletin.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), westerly winds prevailed in the past 24 hours over Delhi with wind speeds gusting up to 15 kmph. Experts noted these winds enabled the dispersion of pollutants slightly.
Early morning commuters reported hazy conditions along major corridors such as the Ring Road, ITO, Dwarka, and Rohini. Doctors said hospitals have begun seeing a steady rise in patients complaining of breathlessness, irritated eyes, and aggravated asthma symptoms, an annual pattern that typically intensifies through late November and early December.
Experts from the air quality early warning system for Delhi have forecast ‘very poor’ air for the city for the next few days until Saturday. The national capital is also likely to experience cold wave conditions at isolated places within the city on Friday, with minimum temperatures falling in the range of 4 and 6 degrees Celsius, IMD stated in a press statement.