Delhi's air on brink of turning severe, worst pollution of season recorded Tuesday: Authorities

Delhi's air quality was on the brink of turning severe on Tuesday morning which witnessed worst pollution of the season as stubble burning in neighbouring states intensified, authorities said.

The air quality of Delhi was recorded at 397, just three points below the severe level and highest of this season, according to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board.

Seventeen areas of the national capital recorded severe air quality, the data said.

Meanwhile, Delhiites woke up to a misty Tuesday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 16.5 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average.

The Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) attributed "heavy stubble burning in the last 24 hours and calm winds as the reason behind the further deterioration of air capital.

The SAFAR said about 28 per cent of pollution by PM2.5 (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) on Tuesday was caused due to regional factors like stubble burning.

PM2.5 was recorded at 251, the highest of this season. Fine particulates can be a matter of more serious health concern than PM10.

Humidity was recorded at 88 per cent at 8.30 AM, said a Met department official.

The weatherman has predicted clear skies for the rest of the day.

"The maximum temperature is expected to settle at 31 degrees," the weatherman said.

Farmers in Punjab have stepped up burning of crop reside after the harvest to prepare their fields for the next round of planting.

This has a direct bearing on the air quality particularly when surface wind is blowing at a slow speed of 2.5 km per hour, favouring accumulation of very small particulate matter called PM-2.5. 

On Monday, the maximum temperature settled at 31.1 degrees Celsius while the minimum was recorded at 15.5 degrees.