Delhiites faced double whammy on Monday with dip in maximum temperature and rise in pollutant levels in the national Capital’s environment.

On Monday, the overall Air quality Index (AQI) has recorded at 433 Micro Gram per Cubic on the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI).  

Elaborating its extend air quality forecast,  System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) said that the overall Delhi AQI is in the SEVERE category on December 30 morning as forecasted. SAFAR model suggests under the influence of approaching western disturbance surface winds are likely to pick up by afternoon.”

“The improved ventilation is likely to influence AQI positively. AQI is forecasted to improve to higher end of the poor category by  December 31st. Significant improvement in AQI towards the middle-end of very poor is expecting by the new year day (1st January 2020). As per SAFAR-model, tomorrow’s top 3 Air Pollution Hot spots of Delhi are likely to be Vinobapuri, Okhla and Badarpurl.” It said.

Importantly, SAFAR further highlight that the Cool Island Effect (land  use induced local effect ) in conjunction with some high emission regions, will make some pockets as intense pollution hot spots within Delhi.

“Under the influence of approaching western disturbance, isolated rainfall is likely over Delhi by January 2nd and likely to improve AQI further by the weekend,” it said further. In the neighbouring areas of Ghaziabad (439), Faridabad (465), Noida (471) and Greater Noida (448) also, the AQI was in the severe category. Gurugram’s AQI stood at 344.

 The frigid temperatures, high humidity and low wind speed allowed accumulation of pollutants leading to further deterioration in the national capital’s air quality on Sunday. The overall air quality index stood at 437 at 4 pm.