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Delhi's Chilly Sunday: Smog Persists as AQI Shows Slight Improvement

Delhi experienced a chilly and windy Sunday morning with temperatures at 6.6°C and persistent smog affecting visibility. The city's overall air quality improved to the 'poor' category with an AQI of 298, according to CPCB data. However, numerous locations including Nehru Nagar, Jahangirpuri, and Anand Vihar continued to record AQI levels above 300, indicating very poor air. The India Meteorological Department reported that cold conditions continued after Saturday's minimum temperature dipped to 5.4°C and rain lashed parts of the city.

Key Points: Delhi AQI Improves to 'Poor' but Smog Reduces Visibility

  • AQI improves to 'poor' category
  • Smog blanket reduces visibility
  • Nehru Nagar most polluted at 359
  • Temperature dips to 5.4°C
2 min read

Delhi wakes up to chilly morning; AQI improves but smog persists

Delhi's air quality improved slightly to 'poor' category with AQI at 298, though smog persists. Several areas still record very poor levels above 300.

"Air quality showed some improvement, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) falling to the 'poor' category - CPCB data"

New Delhi, January 11

The national capital woke up to a windy and chilly Sunday morning, with the temperature recorded at 6.6 degrees Celsius and a thin layer of smog affecting visibility across several areas.

Air quality showed some improvement, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) falling to the 'poor' category from the 'very poor' category. The city's average AQI stood at 298, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

However, several locations in Delhi continued to record AQI levels above 300. Nehru Nagar reported the highest pollution level at 359, followed by Jahangirpuri at 347, Anand Vihar at 339 and RK Puram at 336. Patparganj recorded an AQI of 315, Wazirpur 327, Vivek Vihar 317, Siri Fort 334, Rohini 320, Okhla Phase 2 333, Chandni Chowk 334 and Dwarka Sector 8 308, as per CPCB data till 7 am.

Earlier on Saturday, the minimum temperature in Delhi dipped to 5.4 degrees Celsius as cold conditions continued, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Rain also lashed parts of the city.

A thick layer of smog blanketed several areas on Saturday, while air quality remained in the 'very poor' category across the capital. The overall AQI surged to 361, with many locations exceeding the 300 mark.

Nehru Nagar recorded the highest AQI at 426, followed by Dwarka Sector 8 at 402 and RK Puram at 390. Patparganj reported an AQI of 400, Chandni Chowk 398, ITO 361 and the area near IGI Airport 326.

On Friday, cold conditions prevailed, with the temperature dropping to around 5 degrees Celsius. Air quality ranged from 'poor' to 'very poor', while smog reduced visibility in many parts of the city.

Several areas witnessed a sharp decline in air quality on Friday. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 385. Other locations with high AQI levels included Chandni Chowk at 335, Jahangirpuri at 340, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 354, ITO at 307, Feroz Shah Road at 307, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range at 360, Dwarka Sector 8 at 346, Ashok Vihar at 328 and Nehru Nagar at 392.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Chalo, some improvement at least! 🎉 But Nehru Nagar at 359? That's alarming. The wind helped a bit today, but this smog layer every morning is becoming our new normal. Time to invest in a good air purifier, I guess.
D
David E
Visiting from London and the air here is a shock to the system, even on a 'better' day. The chill is one thing, but breathing this is another. How do residents manage long-term? My respect for all of you dealing with this.
A
Aman W
The data shows the problem is hyper-local. One area improves, another remains terrible. We need ward-level micro-plans, not just city-wide directives. Also, the constant flip-flop between 'poor' and 'very poor' isn't progress, it's just less bad failure.
S
Sneha F
Woke up with a sore throat again. The smog persists even if the number is slightly lower. We can't celebrate 298 as an achievement. When will we see 'moderate' or 'good' days in winter? Missing the clear skies of my hometown. 😔
V
Vikram M
The cold plus pollution is a deadly combo for senior citizens and people with breathing issues. My father's asthma has worsened. Authorities need to treat this as the public health emergency it is, not just a seasonal inconvenience.

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