Smog dissipates as high-velocity winds bring relief in Delhi-NCR

Strong winds on Saturday abated smog lingering over Delhi-NCR for last four days, resulting in a decline in pollution levels. air quality index of national capital re 357 at 4 pm on Saturday, around 100 tches less than Friday's AQI. suburbs of Ghaziab (347), Greater ida (309), Gurgaon (360), Faridab (358) and ida (338) also recorded a dip in pollution levels.

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"Strong surface winds, gusting up to 25 kilometers per hour, blew in region, reducing smog and bringing slight relief. Windy conditions are expected on Sunday as well and air quality will improve furr in next two days," Kuldeep Srivastava, a senior scientist at India Meteorological Department, said.

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Schools in Delhi and neighbouring Ghaziab, ida and Greater ida also reopened on Saturday after remaining shut for two days in view of a harmful spike in air pollution. System of Air Quality and Wear Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), government's air quality monitor, said strong boundary-layer and surface winds were flushing out accumulated pollutants. A drizzle last night would have delayed recovery but that did t happen, it said.

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SAFAR official predicts Delhi's air quality

"High surface winds in Delhi are predicted to continue for next two days. effective stubble fire count is low. Even if it is high, transport-level wind direction is t favourable (rrly), and speed is so high (42kmph) that plume will surpass Delhi and complete its lifespan before it touches bottom end of Indo-Gangetic plains (Mathura-Agra)," a SAFAR official said. share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution on Sunday is predicted to be t more than 2%, official said. AQI is likely to enter poor category on Monday. However, pollution is likely to increase vember 20 onwards as ar western disturbance will result in a dip in wind speed. 

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