NewKerala.com

Delhi-NCR Air Quality Worsens to 'Poor' Levels as Winds Slow Down

Delhi-NCR's air quality remains in the 'poor' category with an AQI of 214, worsened by slow wind speeds. Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar at 300, reported very high pollution levels. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath compared Delhi's air to a 'gas chamber', contrasting it with conditions in his state. While the IMD forecasts some rain, temperatures are expected to remain high, offering only brief and marginal relief from the pollution.

Key Points: Delhi AQI at 214, Remains in 'Poor' Category

  • AQI at 214 in 'poor' category
  • Anand Vihar station hits AQI 300
  • Yogi Adityanath criticizes Delhi's air
  • IMD forecasts rain but high temps to continue
  • Delhi temps 1.9°C above normal for February
3 min read

Delhi-NCR air quality remains poor with AQI at 214

Delhi-NCR air quality is poor with AQI of 214. Several stations report high pollution. Yogi Adityanath comments, while IMD forecasts limited rain relief.

"compared Delhi's air quality to a 'gas chamber' - Yogi Adityanath"

New Delhi, Feb 16

Residents of Delhi-NCR will continue to face poor air quality, as slow wind speeds have once again pushed pollution levels into the 'poor' category. The Air Quality Index on Monday stood at 214 around 7 a.m., according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

On Sunday, the air quality in the national capital had slipped to the 'poor' category as well, with the AQI recorded at 221 around 7 a.m. This was marginally worse than the AQI of 197 recorded on Saturday.

As per CPCB data, several monitoring stations reported high AQI levels on Monday morning. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 300, Ashok Vihar 266, Burari Crossing 240, DTU 205, Dwarka Sector-8 237, IIT Delhi 137, ITO 204, Jahangiripuri 288, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 244, Mandir Marg 159, Narela 248, Okhla Phase-2 216, Patparganj 224, Pusa 216, R.K. Puram 245, Rohini 282, Sonia Vihar 252, and Wazirpur 272.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday compared Delhi's air quality to a 'gas chamber' and claimed that residents of his state were enjoying a cleaner environment. He said people in Uttar Pradesh were not being 'suffocated' despite rapid development work.

Weather conditions may offer limited relief in the coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain and thunderstorms over parts of northern India on February 16 and in the following days. However, temperatures in Delhi are expected to remain high, with the maximum likely to climb close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The national capital remained warmer than usual during the first half of February. The average maximum temperature recorded between February 1 and 15 stood at 25 degrees Celsius, which is 1.9 degrees Celsius above the long-period average (LPA) for this period.

Although weather experts have predicted an active western disturbance in the coming days, a significant drop in temperature is unlikely. The maximum temperature is likely to gradually rise to 30 degrees Celsius.

Delhi's maximum temperature on Sunday was recorded at 28.5 degrees Celsius, around four degrees above normal for this time of the year. The maximum temperature is forecast to touch 29 degrees Celsius on both Monday and Tuesday.

During the first 15 days of February, the maximum temperature stayed above normal for 14 days, with the mercury falling below 20 degrees only once. The highest maximum temperature so far this month has been 28.6 degrees Celsius, recorded on February 10.

The IMD has further predicted that a feeble western disturbance may bring isolated drizzles in the city on Wednesday. However, the maximum temperature is unlikely to dip significantly and may hover around 28 degrees Celsius by the weekend.

The possible drizzle could lead to a marginal temperature drop, but it would be brief. The possible drizzle may lead to a marginal dip in temperature, but it will be only a brief decrease of 1-2 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature is likely to rise again after February 19.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Anand Vihar at 300! That's 'very poor' category. I drive through there daily for work and my eyes burn by the time I reach the office. The odd-even rule needs to come back, and stricter enforcement on construction dust is a must. We can't keep living like this.
A
Aman W
The CM comparing Delhi to a gas chamber and then boasting about UP is not helpful. Pollution doesn't respect state borders. Instead of political point-scoring, all neighboring states need to work together on stubble burning and industrial regulations. This is a collective failure.
S
Sarah B
The high temperatures in February are also worrying. Climate change is making our pollution problem worse by creating these stagnant weather conditions. We need to tackle both issues together. Hoping the predicted rain brings some relief, even if temporary. 🤞
K
Karthik V
Look at the data - IIT Delhi area at 137 is significantly better. Shows that green cover and controlled traffic *can* make a difference. We need to replicate that model in other parts of the city. More parks, better public transport, and pedestrian-only zones please!
N
Nisha Z
As a parent, it's heartbreaking to tell my kids they can't play outside. We've invested in indoor games and activities, but it's not the same. This is stealing their childhood. Authorities need to treat this as the health emergency it is. 💔

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50