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Delhi Chokes in 'Very Poor' Air, Cold Wave Grips Capital at 5.4°C

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category with an AQI of 358, while several areas recorded 'severe' pollution levels. The city also continued to experience harsh cold wave conditions, with the minimum temperature dropping to 5.4 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department reported that cold conditions are expected to intensify across North India until January 15. A yellow alert has been issued for foggy conditions, with the maximum temperature also expected to drop further.

Key Points: Delhi Air Quality Very Poor, Cold Wave Persists

  • AQI at 358 in 'very poor' range
  • Minimum temperature drops to 5.4°C
  • Areas like Nehru Nagar hit 'severe' AQI
  • Cold wave to intensify until Jan 15
  • Yellow alert for fog issued
2 min read

Delhi's air quality remains in 'very poor' category, cold wave conditions persist

Delhi's AQI hits 358 in 'very poor' range as temperatures plunge to 5.4°C. Several areas record 'severe' pollution levels.

"Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday - CPCB Data"

New Delhi, Jan 10

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index recorded at 358 at 6:05 a.m., according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board's Sameer app. The national Capital continued to experience harsh cold wave conditions, with the minimum temperature dropping to 5.4 degrees Celsius.

On Friday morning, the AQI stood at 318, which was also classified as 'very poor'. Delhi has been reeling under deteriorating air quality over the past several days, with many areas reporting AQI levels ranging from 'very poor' to 'severe', as per CPCB data.

Areas that recorded 'severe' air quality included Nehru Nagar with an AQI of 426, Anand Vihar at 422, Vivek Vihar at 408, and Sirifort at 404. Several other locations were placed in the 'very poor' category, including Patparganj (400), Dwarka Sector-8 (399), Okhla Phase-2 (398), JLN Stadium (394), RK Puram and Chandni Chowk (390), Rohini (372), Punjabi Bagh and Mundka (368), Ashok Vihar (359), Bawana (346), Aya Nagar (344), IGI Airport Terminal-3 (325), and Alipur (302).

Meanwhile, Burari Crossing recorded an AQI of 300 and Pusa IMD registered 290, both falling under the 'poor' category.

As per CPCB standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.

Alongside poor air quality, cold wave conditions continued to persist in the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the minimum temperature dropped to 5.4 degrees Celsius at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday. A cold wave in the plains is declared when the minimum temperature falls to 10 degrees Celsius or below and is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below normal.

The city had earlier recorded its lowest minimum temperature of the year so far, and the third lowest of the season, at 5.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning. According to the IMD, cold conditions are expected to intensify across North India until January 15. A yellow alert has been issued for light to dense fog during morning hours, with partly cloudy skies and foggy conditions likely to continue until January 13. The maximum temperature in Delhi is also expected to drop to around 15 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Living in Anand Vihar, it's a daily struggle. The air burns your eyes and throat. The government's GRAP measures feel like a temporary band-aid. We need a permanent, year-round solution, not just reactions when it hits 'severe'.
D
David E
Visiting Delhi for work and the air quality is shocking. Back home, an AQI of 50 gets people worried. Here, 358 is just 'very poor'? The scale itself seems normalized to dangerous levels. Stay safe, everyone.
A
Aman W
The combination of cold wave and pollution is deadly for the elderly and street vendors. Can we not have more warming shelters and free mask distribution in worst-affected areas like Vivek Vihar and Nehru Nagar?
S
Sneha F
Respectfully, while the article lists areas, it misses the human cost. My asthma has flared up badly, and hospital OPDs are full. The focus should be on healthcare preparedness during these months, not just reporting numbers.
V
Vikram M
Every winter it's the same story. Construction dust, vehicle emissions, and weather conditions. As a citizen, I've started carpooling and using metro. Small steps, but if everyone does their bit, maybe we can breathe easier. 🤞

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