Delhi Faces Cold Wave with Dense Fog; Overall Air Quality Remains 'Severe'
On Friday, residents of Delhi awoke to a thick blanket of fog as a cold wave swept through the city. According to the IMD, the minimum temperature in Delhi dropped to 7 degrees Celsius, with fog covering the area.
People in various areas, including Yamuna Bazar and New Delhi Railway Station, sought shelter in night shelters.
Furthermore, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted cold wave to severe cold wave conditions across much of North India.
"Weather Alert for Today: Severe cold wave conditions are expected in some areas of Himachal Pradesh. Cold wave conditions will also affect a few places in Punjab and isolated areas in Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Dense fog is anticipated at isolated locations in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Ground frost may occur in isolated regions of Himachal Pradesh, " IMD said.
On Thursday morning, a cold wave in the national capital caused reduced visibility. The minimum temperature fell to 7.4 degrees Celsius, and visibility in Delhi was recorded at 250 meters at 8 am.
Meanwhile on Friday, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'severe' category. As reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in the national capital was measured at 434 at 8 AM.
In various parts of Delhi, the Air Quality Index ranged between 'severe' and 'severe-plus' levels. RK Puram registered an AQI of 453, Rohini 452, Shadipur 436, and Vivek Vihar 451.
An AQI ranging from 0-50 is deemed good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 is severe. Meanwhile, various regions in North India experienced a cold wave as temperatures dropped.
On Thursday, critically high levels of PM2.5, the primary pollutant, were recorded in the city, with 32 out of 35 monitoring stations indicating air quality in the 'severe plus' category. In some areas, the AQI levels have surged to 470. PM2.5 particles, measuring 2.5 micrometers or less, pose significant health risks as they can penetrate deeply into the lungs when inhaled.
Delhi remains in Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), enforcing the most stringent anti-pollution measures. These include a complete prohibition on construction activities and the entry of non-essential polluting trucks into the city.
GRAP classifies air quality into four levels: Stage I (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (Severe Plus, AQI over 450).