Delhi wakes up to biting cold and 'very poor' air quality, overall AQI at 352
New Delhi, January 15
Delhi's air quality continued to remain a serious concern on Thursday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index recorded at 352 at 8 am, falling in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.
Several areas across the national capital reported AQI levels well above 300, indicating persistently hazardous conditions for public health.
Anand Vihar recorded 345, Ashok Vihar 376, ITO 380, and RK Puram 383. Patparganj recorded an AQI of 381, Wazirpur 385, Chandni Chowk 384, and Dwarka Sector 8 389, according to CPCB data as of 8 am.
As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'.
In addition to poor air quality, Delhi is experiencing an intense cold wave. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), early morning temperatures in the city dropped to around 5 degrees Celsius. According to the IMD forecast, similar cold conditions are likely to persist throughout the day.
The cold wave, coupled with dense fog, has also impacted air traffic. As cold waves grip the national capital, a few flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport due to reduced visibility caused by fog.
A day earlier, Delhi woke up to a chilly morning, with temperatures dropping to around 3-4 degrees Celsius. Cold wave conditions, accompanied by dense fog in several parts of the city, continued to disrupt normal life, affecting visibility and adding to travel-related challenges.
Meanwhile, rehearsals for the 77th Republic Day parade are currently underway at Kartavya Path.
Furthermore, as per air quality data available at 8 am, Ahmedabad recorded an AQI of 115, while Bengaluru stood at 95. Chennai's AQI was recorded at 120, and Hyderabad reported a comparatively better air quality with an AQI of 85. Jaipur registered an AQI of 176, placing it in the 'poor' category, while Lucknow recorded 194. Mumbai's AQI stood at 108, Patna at 148, and Pune at 132, indicating 'moderate' air quality levels in these cities.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The cold is one thing, but this air is suffocating. I live near RK Puram and my AQI app shows 383. My parents are visiting from Pune where the air is so much better, and they are struggling. We've had to buy two more air purifiers. This is becoming unlivable.
Look at the data - Hyderabad at 85, Bangalore at 95. Delhi at 352! It's a shame. Stubble burning in neighboring states is a major factor, but we also need to control construction dust and vehicle emissions here. It's a collective failure.
I moved here for work from Canada last year. The cold I can handle with layers, but nothing prepares you for this air quality. My throat is constantly sore. I respect the efforts being made, but the pace of change needs to match the severity of the crisis.
And amidst this, Republic Day rehearsals are on. Hats off to our armed forces personnel who have to practice in these conditions. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 But seriously, we need to solve this for the sake of every citizen who calls Delhi home.
The combo of cold wave and pollution is a nightmare for commuters. Flights delayed, visibility near zero on the roads. Stay safe everyone, use fog lights and masks. Hope the sun comes out soon to clear some of this.
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