Air may get worse today: CPCB

The impact of Friday's overnight showers continued to improve the air quality in Delhi and surrounding regions for the second consecutive day a day before Diwali- and kept it two notches away from the "severe" category.

- Snehil Sinha & Soumya Pillai

The 24-hour air quality index (AQI) at 4pm on Saturday came to 220 as strong winds swept the city, but a staccato of firework sounds punctured hopes that citizens would adhere to the ban on Sunday, which will likely lead to a spike in pollution levels.

The pollution forecast released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CBCP) for the next six days too suggested the relief might be temporary, making for rather sooty days on and post Diwali. According to the forecast, the AQI would reach "very poor" on Sunday and further fall to "severe" on November 13.

This year, between November 2 and November 9, the Capital lived through its longest and most severe stretch of air pollution when the AQI was above 390 for a record eight consecutive days. For the six days after November 14, "the air quality is likely to remain 'severe' to 'very poor'," said the forecast.