Residents of India's capital city woke up to a thick haze and dangerously polluted air on Monday morning, as the overall air quality in Delhi persisted in the 'very poor' category. The situation was notably worse in several localities, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) breached the 400 mark, entering the 'severe' zone.
Key Areas Record Severe Pollution Levels
According to the latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), four specific areas in Delhi recorded AQI levels classified as severe at 7:20 am. Narela recorded the highest AQI at 418, closely followed by Bawana at 408, Wazirpur at 403, and Anand Vihar at 402. This indicates a significant deterioration from the previous day, Sunday, when the overall AQI for the national capital was 377, still within the 'very poor' range.
The CPCB classifies an AQI between 301 and 400 as 'very poor' and any reading from 401 to 500 as 'severe', posing serious health risks to the general public.
Fog Adds to Commuter Woes, Trains Rescheduled
Compounding the pollution problem was a layer of dense fog that blanketed the city in the early hours. The meteorological department issued a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog across most places in Delhi. This weather condition had a direct impact on transportation, particularly rail services.
As reported by news agency PTI, the reduced visibility led to the rescheduling of several trains at the New Delhi Railway Station, causing inconvenience to passengers. The IMD forecast suggests that moderate to shallow fog conditions are likely to persist from Tuesday through Thursday.
Temperature Trends and 'Cold Day' Conditions
While the city grappled with pollution and fog, the temperatures showed a slight upward trend. On Sunday, as the sun made a brief appearance, the maximum temperature rose to 18.1 degrees Celsius, although it remained four notches below the seasonal normal. Forecasters expect the day temperature to climb further to around 20-22 degrees Celsius on Monday.
The minimum temperature on Monday morning was recorded at 9.4 degrees Celsius, which is one notch above normal. It is likely to hover around 9 degrees Celsius. Notably, while the IMD had forecast 'cold day' conditions in isolated pockets, no weather station in Delhi met the official criterion on Sunday. A 'cold day' is declared when the minimum temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 degrees below normal.
The twin challenges of hazardous air pollution and disruptive fog continue to test the resilience of Delhi's citizens, highlighting the persistent environmental issues facing the national capital during the winter months.
