With every passing day, the air quality in Delhi refuses to improve. After a short-lived relief, the national capital's air quality is once again so bad it qualifies as a national health emergency.
On Thursday morning, the AQI level in Delhi was measured at 472 (severe). At many places in NCR, the AQI crossed the 500-mark, putting the regions in 'severe plus' category.
According to SAFAR, the levels of PM 2.5 - tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter that can enter deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream - breached the emergency threshold of 300 micrograms per cubic metre in Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning and shot up to 322 micrograms per cubic metre, around six times the safe limit of 0-60, in the morning.
The levels of PM10 increased to 487 micrograms per cubic metre in the morning, roughly five times the safe limit of 100 micrograms per cubic metre.
The noxious smog resulting from raging farm fires and unfavourable weather pushed pollution in Delhi-NCR towards the "emergency" zone on Wednesday, prompting authorities to order the closure of schools till November 15 - second time in two weeks.
With the Central Pollution Control Board fearing a similar situation will prevail over the next two days, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the odd-even road rationing scheme can be extended if needed.
Also Read: Delhi Pollution: Dip in AQI to 'Severe', likely to enter emergency zone today
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) also extended the restrictions on dirty-fuel based industries in Delhi-NCR, hot mix plants and stone crushers till the morning of November 15, as the MeT department said strong winds are expected from Friday, which will bring down the air pollution levels to the very poor category.
The schools in the national capital will be closed on Thursday and Friday, the Delhi government said.
On November 1, the Supreme Court-mandated panel EPCA declared a public health emergency as air pollution neared the emergency levels and the administration ordered the closure of schools till November 5.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.
According to weather experts, a fall in the temperature and wind speed led to the accumulation of pollutants. The problems were compounded by a cloud cover that blocked sunlight.
Incidents of stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab have increased and northwesterly winds have been bringing more farm fire plume to the Delhi-NCR region, they said.
However, they said, the situation is likely to improve on Friday with an increase in wind speed due to a fresh western disturbance and a dip in farm fires.