As per CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
The brief respite from pollution was short-lived -- after a day of clearer skies, Delhi's air quality witnessed another sharp surge on Saturday.
According to the Centre Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) readings on Saturday climbed up to a value of 303, jumping by 85 points from Friday's 218, pushing Delhi's air again from the 'poor' category to the 'very poor' category.
Advertisement
As per CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
This marks the second major jump in Delhi's pollution levels in three days. On Thursday, the city's 24-hour average AQI had surged to 373 -- the season's highest -- up nearly 100 points from Wednesday's 279.
Experts have predicted the 'very poor' air to continue in Delhi until Tuesday, with slight improvement from Wednesday onwards.
According to the weather department, a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to influence the western Himalayan region from Monday night, with a forecast of rainfall in the coming week.
Meanwhile, no large change in maximum and minimum temperatures was noted in Delhi during the past 24 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department.
On Saturday, the maximum temperature at the city's base station was near normal and stood at 30.5 °C, while the minimum settled at 19.4 °C, departing 3.3 °C above normal.