Delhi is experiencing a sharp chill as temperatures plummet, with the city recording a minimum temperature of 4.5°C on Monday—4.1°C below normal. Cold wave conditions have been observed in several parts of the city, including Pusa, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts more of the same on Tuesday, with minimum temperatures hovering around 5°C. The maximum temperature in the capital reached 24.5°C, a notch above the usual range for this time of year.
The ongoing cold wave marks the fourth instance in December where the minimum temperature has dipped below 5°C. At Pusa, temperatures fell to 3.5°C, further intensifying the chill. Humidity levels in the city fluctuated between 100% and 66% during the day, contributing to the biting cold. The IMD predicts that the cold wave will continue through Tuesday, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 24°C and the minimum temperature around 5°C.
Alongside the drop in temperature, Delhi’s air quality has worsened, falling into the “very poor” category. The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 379 at 4 PM on Monday, up from 294 on Sunday. This marks the second time this month that the AQI has crossed into the “very poor” zone. The city’s pollution levels are being driven by fine particulate matter (PM2.5), with concentrations reaching 189.5 µg/m³ at 4 PM.
As air quality continues to deteriorate, 18 out of 37 monitoring stations in the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded air quality in the “severe” category, while 16 stations saw “very poor” air quality, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the SAMEER app.
The CPCB has classified AQI in the following way: 0-50 is “good,” 51-100 is “satisfactory,” 101-200 is “moderate,” 201-300 is “poor,” 301-400 is “very poor,” and above 400 is “severe.” The main pollutant driving this surge is PM2.5, tiny particles that pose serious health risks by penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream.
The deteriorating air quality has led to the activation of Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by the Centre’s air quality panel for Delhi-NCR. Under the GRAP-3 measures, vehicles that do not meet BS-III (petrol) and BS-IV (diesel) emission norms are banned from entering Delhi and parts of the NCR. This is aimed at reducing vehicular emissions, which are a major source of pollution during the colder months. Additionally, all non-essential construction activities are suspended, though national security, healthcare, and essential public infrastructure projects are exempt.
The air quality is expected to remain in the “very poor” category for at least the next two days, with little improvement expected due to low wind speeds, according to Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services. With the ongoing cold wave and pollution, residents are urged to take precautions, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Sources By Agencies
