Delhi air quality still 'severe', but agency predicts some respite

On November 1, a Supreme Court mandated panel declared a public health emergency in NCR after the air quality slipped into 'severe plus' category and banned all construction activity till November 5.

Air quality was “severe” in New Delhi on Saturday, a day after the national capital shut down schools and declared a public health emergency till November 5 because of pollution.

SAFAR, the government-run monitoring agency, said Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was 480 at 8:20 am—pollution level that puts even healthy people at risk.  

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe. Above 500 is severe-plus emergency category.

The AQI of five places in and around Delhi has been provided in the table given below