Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the ‘poor’ category on Saturday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 212, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marks a slight improvement from the previous day’s AQI of 277, but the capital’s air quality still poses a significant concern.
Specific areas in Delhi showed varying levels of pollution. Alipur, Anand Vihar, Bawana, and Chandni Chowk recorded AQI levels of 205, 249, 278, and 168, respectively. In other parts of the city, such as Dwarka Sec 8, Nehru Nagar, IGI Airport (T3), Rohini, Pusa, and Mundka, the AQI ranged from 212 to 264. AQI levels between 201 and 300 fall under the ‘poor’ category, which can have adverse effects on health, especially for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
An AQI score between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, and anything above 200 falls under ‘poor’ or ‘very poor,’ with potentially harmful effects on people’s health.
While Delhi’s air quality remained poor, the city experienced some respite from the cold wave that had gripped it earlier. The temperature at 5.30 am on Saturday was 9.4 degrees Celsius, with a noticeable rise of around 4-5 degrees Celsius compared to Friday. This rise in temperature followed a sudden dip earlier in the week due to a western disturbance, which caused temperatures to plummet to as low as 4.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, marking the coldest morning of December.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that temperatures in Delhi would stabilize around 8-9 degrees Celsius in the coming days, with maximum temperatures expected to stay between 22-24 degrees Celsius. Fog conditions are likely to persist in northwest India, and fog is also anticipated to develop in eastern Uttar Pradesh on the 16th and 17th of December.
Despite the slight improvement in temperatures, many homeless people continued to seek shelter in night shelters set up by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). To address the issue, the DUSIB has provided 235 pagoda tents to offer protection to the homeless population during the chilly nights.
IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy indicated that while the cold wave conditions have eased, the foggy conditions in northern India are expected to continue, with heavy rainfall predicted in southern Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and fog conditions expected to persist across northeast India.
As Delhi grapples with poor air quality and ongoing weather disruptions, authorities are urging residents to take precautions to mitigate the effects of air pollution, especially those with respiratory conditions.
Sources By Agencies
