The air quality of Delhi has slightly deteriorated in the recent day but is still unhealthy as the festival of Diwali approaches. AQI was at 237 on Saturday which is slightly lower than the score recorded the previous day which was 283. According to the monitoring platforms as of the most recent reading, there were recorded 227. But it is still remained in ITI Jahangirpuri with AQI as much as 265. Authorities say that concentration in the air might rise as Diwali celebrations continue or climax, elevating risks to dangerous levels shortly.
At the same time, weather slowly transforms in Delhi, people of Delhi looking forward to chilly climate at the end of October. The high for Saturday was 33 degrees Celsius and low was 19 degrees Celsius. IMD expects a further drop around October 30-31, probably due to Cyclone Dana which may disrupt weather in the capital at the weekend.
Some level of health problems are still present even with the overall small changes in air quality. Pollution hovers over some areas of the city making the people have breathing difficulties. The flu season sees more people going to the hospital complaining of cold, cough, and flu illnesses. Consequently, Delhi has adopted the second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for air pollution control, which to some extent has smoothened air quality at places like Anand Vihar where AQI had been recorded between 300-400 reading dropping down to 246.
As for the further temperature changes, based on the IMD data the author expects gradual temperature drop which indicates the coming of winter. The minimum temperatures are expected to rise after Diwali and Chhath while uncomfortable winter weather should set in by mid November. This follows a recent upsurge in cases of pollution, and increasing cold weather, a problem whose effects the city faces this festive season as authorities call on people to be cautious and avoid exposing themselves to diseases.
