Air quality in Delhi falls in poor category

New Delhi: Delhi's air quality was recorded in the poor category for the third consecutive day on Wednesday and a major improvement is unlikely over the next few days, according to monitoring agencies.

The city's average air quality index (AQI) stood at 238 at 10 am, worsening from 220 at 4pm on Tuesday.

The average AQI was 196 in neighbouring Ghaziabad, 258 in Faridabad, 176 in Gurugram, 200 in Noida and 248 in Greater Noida.   According to the Centre's Air Quality Early



Warning System for Delhi, the city's air quality is likely to oscillate between the poor and very poor categories over the next four to five days.  An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe.  Delhi's air quality had turned very poor on Sunday for the first time since May, mainly due to a drop in temperature and wind speed, which allowed pollutants to accumulate.