Delhi’s air quality in ‘very poor’ category, cold wave persists
Delhi witnessed yet another day of toxic air on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the ‘very poor’ category for the second consecutive day.
Cold wave conditions continued to sweep the National Capital on Friday as the minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 4 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Safdarjung Observatory, the primary weather station here, had recorded the minimum temperature.
The maximum temperature was recorded at 16.6 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal.
The weather station at New Delhi-Ayanagar recorded the minimum temperature of 1.8 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal.
The weather station at New Delhi-Ridge recorded a minimum temperature of 3.3 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal while the weather station at New Delhi-Lodhi Road recorded a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that cold wave conditions are likely to remain for another 24 hours in Delhi as well as in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.
In its latest update, the IMD said cold to severe cold day conditions will prevail over parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Rajasthan and in some places in Punjab and Haryana as well.
“Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions reported at most places over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh; at many places over Bihar; at a few places over North Rajasthan and North Madhya Pradesh. Cold Day conditions also reported at a few places over Delhi,” the IMD said in a tweet on Friday.
Meanwhile, trains have been running late due to excess fog and low visibility. As many as 26 trains have been running late. “Darbhanga – New Delhi Clone Special, Puri- New Delhi Purushottam Express, Gaya- New Delhi Mahabodhi Express, Malda Town -Delhi Farakka Express, Banaras- New Delhi Kashi Vishwanath Express, Howrah – New Delhi Poorva Express, Prayagraj-New Delhi Humsafar Express, Madhupur-Anand Vihar Terminal Baba Baidyanath Dham Deoghar Superfast Express, Rewa -Anand Vihar Terminal, Prayagraj-New Delhi Express, Rajendra Nagar Terminal -New Delhi Sampoorna Kranti Express, among others,” as per information from Indian Railway.
On Friday, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 361 under the “very poor” category.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”; 51 and 100 “satisfactory”; 101 and 200 “moderate”; 201 and 300 “poor”; 301 and 400 “very poor”; and 401 and 500 “severe”.
Mathura Road registered the highest AQI of 440 under the “severe” category, followed by Pusa (359), Lodhi Road (342) and Ayanagar (338) all “very poor”.
Experts said the AQI may continue to remain in the “very poor” category for a few more days.
According to a forecast from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research, the air quality of the city will deteriorate further under the “very poor” category reaching 375 on Saturday.
On Thursday, Delhiites experienced the coldest day of this season so far with minimum temperature being recorded at 3 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal.
According to the IMD, the Safdarjung Observatory, the primary weather station here, had recorded the minimum temperature. The weather station at New Delhi-Ayanagar recorded the minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal.
The weather station at New Delhi-Lodhi Road recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal while the weather station at New Delhi-Ridge recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal.
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