Air quality still in `dangerous’ territory

Despite the weather having cleared in the past few days, Delhi’s air quality index has continued to remain in the `severe’ category , indicating that there has been no reduction in pollutants over the city. Thursday’s AQI was down to 408 from Wednesday’s 424 but experts say there is little reason to cheer since even this level is highly dangerous.

The Met department said that Friday and Saturday would see another build-up of smog, but it would be temporary . “The weather will remain dry but we expect moderate to shallow fog over Haryana, Delhi and UP,” said a Met official.

Dr D Saha, additional director of CPCB said that it was imperative that no further pollution be added to the air. “Because of the wind pattern, crop burning in Haryana and Punjab will lead to more pollution in the capital,” he said.

The Met department has predicted a gradual rise in minimum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius over northwest India during the next 48 hours.