Delhi's Air Quality Worsens Ahead of Diwali, Raises Health Concerns

The air quality in Delhi is deteriorating ahead of Diwali, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 129 in the "moderately polluted" range on October 10. A combination of factors, including a dip in temperatures, fog, and stagnant winds, is trapping PM2.5 pollutants and raising health concerns for residents. The AQI is forecast to persist in the "moderately polluted" category through the weekend, with the most polluted regions being PUSA and Mathura Road.

Key Takeaways:

The Delhi AQI touched 129 on October 10, categorizing the air as "moderately polluted."
The AQI was forecast to persist in the "moderately polluted" category through the weekend.
The most polluted regions on October 10 were PUSA (198) and Mathura Road (173).
The temperature had dipped below 20 degrees Celsius, making it harder for PM2.5 pollutants to disperse.
The development of fog and lack of constant winds also contributed to the pollution and rising AQI.
The AQI is derived from various parameters, including particulate matter (PM) 2.5 pollutant, PM 10, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Ozone (O3).

Statistics:

Delhi AQI on October 10: 129 (moderately polluted)
AQI forecast for October 10: Back down to 91 as the day progressed, but likely to go up and remain over 100 on Saturday
Temperature on October 10: 19.2 degrees Celsius (dipped below 20 degrees Celsius)
Minimum temperature forecast: 18-20 degrees Celsius
AQI readings are classified as follows: Good (0-50), Satisfactory (51-100), Moderately Polluted (101-200), Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), and Severe (401-500)

Sources:

"Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi"
"Weather forecast in Delhi for October 10"