Delhi's air quality dips to 'very poor', overall AQI 363

The overall air quality in Delhi stood at 'very poor' on Tuesday with at Air Quality Index (AQI) floating at 363. Old Delhi's Chandani Chowk witnessed a 'severe' AQI of 466 while Mathura road saw 406. Adjoining Noida recorded a 'severe' air quality with the AQI standing at 447.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 is marked as severe/hazardous.

The PM10 and PM2.5 levels in the national capital were recorded at 283 and 170 respectively.

In a release on Monday, government's weather monitoring agency SAFAR had said that some regions like Jahagirpuri, Vinobapuri, Sahibabad, and GT Road will enter in severe categories by evening of December 24.

It had ealier advised people to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion when the air quality is not good. "People are advised to take more breaks and do less intense activities. It is advisable for the asthmatics to keep medicines ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see the doctor, if get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it stated in its advisory.

On Monday, SAFAR said that low minimum temperature will continue over north India to keep dense fog till Wednesday.

The temperature at 5:30 AM on Tuesday was recorded at 9.3 degree Celcius at Safdarjung while it dropped to 6.6 degrees at Palam. The former had a visibility of around 500 metres and latter just 300 metres.