The air quality in Delhi slightly improved to ‘very poor’ category after remaining in ‘severe’ category for days.

The overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 329 on Monday, according to government agency SAFAR. PM10 pollutants were recorded at 237 and PM2.5 pollutants were recorded at 158.

“The air quality is likely to stay in the same ‘very poor’ category for the next two days,” the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said in a statement.

According to the forecast, the air quality may improve further on January 20 and may remain at the lower end of the ‘very poor’ to ‘poor’ category.

Earlier, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has cautioned that AQI in ‘poor’ category can cause breathing difficulties after prolonged exposure. While ‘very poor’ air quality can lead to respiratory illness and ‘severe’ could affect those with underlying health conditions.

Favourable wind speed aided in dispersion of pollutants have improved the city’s air quality slightly, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.

The city’s 24-hour average AQI was 347 on Sunday. It was 407 on Saturday, 460 on Friday, 429 on Thursday, and 354 on Wednesday.

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 overall air quality index (AQI) remained in the “severe” category for three days on the trot till Saturday due to “extremely unfavourable” conditions for dispersion of pollutants.

Air quality in Noida, Ghaziabad

The average air quality in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Gurgaon was in the ‘very poor’ level on Sunday, a day after recording it in the ‘severe’ category, according to data issued by a government agency.

Faridabad recorded its air quality in the ‘poor’ category.

Pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10, however, remained prominent in the air of the five immediate neighbours of Delhi, according to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).