Delhi’s air quality once again entered the “emergency” category on Saturday evening, dashing hopes of recovery generated during the morning hours when levels of pollutants showed a steady drop.
Dramatic reversal
The dramatic reversal in the situation, hours after the government announced that levels of ultra fine particulates PM2.5 and PM10 had seen a reduction, caught people and weather scientists unaware.
Centre-run air monitoring agency SAFAR’s project director Gufran Beig said: “There is no likelihood of last week’s repeat as there is no fresh influx of pollutants from external sources such as stubble burning or dust storm in the larger region. But recovery will get delayed by at least one more day.”
The hourly graph of the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management run by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also captured the sudden change in circumstances.
The CPCB’s air quality index for Saturday (based on pollution levels till 5 pm) had a score of 403, as against Friday’s 468.