Delhi Experiences Light Rain, Lower Visibility This Morning
Light rain was observed in various areas of the national capital, accompanied by a layer of fog that led to decreased visibility on Friday morning.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded on Friday was 12 degrees Celsius, while the highest was 20 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has forecasted a 'thunderstorm with rain' for Delhi on Friday and Saturday, indicating that more rainfall is anticipated in the city.
A resident said, "The weather has improved and now resembles that of Kashmir. It has become so pleasant that one could easily travel in it. Although it is cold, the rain has helped reduce the pollution levels."
Raman Kushwaha, a tourist from Madhya Pradesh, mentioned, "The weather is cold with some light rain, but it's still a great time to visit places. The pollution levels have also gone down."
Images from Kartavya Path depicted light rain creating a pleasant atmosphere accompanied by thick fog in the region.
Meanwhile according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, as of 7 am, the air quality index in the city remained in the 'very poor' category with an AQI of 371.
At 7 am, the AQI readings are as follows: Anand Vihar at 398, IGI Airport (T3) at 340, Aya Nagar at 360, Lodhi Road at 345, ITO at 380, Chandni Chowk at 315, and Punjabi Bagh at 386.
On Tuesday, the Central government's air quality monitoring committee revoked Stage IV ('Severe+') restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) following an improvement in air quality.
However, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced on December 24 that measures under Stages I, II, and III will remain in effect to prevent any further deterioration in air quality.
The choice was made following an improvement in Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) on December 24. The improvement in air quality was attributed to favorable weather conditions, such as increased wind speed, according to predictions from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
In compliance with the Supreme Court's directives, Stage IV measures were initially enforced on December 16 when AQI levels exceeded 400. These measures aimed to mitigate extreme pollution and included restrictions on industrial activities, construction, and the entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi-NCR to address air pollution, based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.