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Devotees Brave Cold Wave for Ganga Dip as UP Cities Report Moderate Air Quality

Despite a cold wave with temperatures around 10°C, devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga in Varanasi. Multiple cities across Uttar Pradesh, including Agra and Lucknow, recorded air quality in the 'moderate' category. While Delhi's air quality improved from Wednesday, it remained in the 'poor' category with persistent smog in several areas. The Taj Mahal was shrouded in fog, contrasting with Vrindavan which reported 'good' air quality.

Key Points: Ganga Dip in Cold Wave; UP Air Quality Moderate

  • Holy dip in cold wave
  • Moderate AQI across UP cities
  • Delhi air improves but poor
  • Fog blankets Taj Mahal & Delhi
2 min read

Devotees bathe in Ganga amid cold wave; multiple UP cities report moderate air quality

Devotees bathe in the Ganga amid a cold wave in Varanasi. Multiple UP cities report moderate air quality, while Delhi sees improvement but remains poor.

"The devotees braved the cold wave to take a holy dip in the Ganga River. - India Today"

Varanasi, December 25

The devotees braved the cold wave to take a holy dip in the Ganga River in Varanasi, where the India Meteorological Department forecast a minimum temperature of 10°C. On Thursday morning, the city recorded an overall air quality in the 'moderate' category, with an AQI ranging between 101 and 200.

Additionally, multiple cities across Uttar Pradesh recorded overall 'moderate' air quality, according to CPCB data. In Agra, the AQI ranged between 101 and 200, placing it in the 'moderate' category. Amid the ongoing cold wave, the Taj Mahal remained covered in fog, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a minimum temperature of 11°C for the city.

The state capital, Lucknow, recorded an AQI of 174 at 8 am, placing it in the 'moderate' category. Similarly, Hapur also experienced moderate air quality, with an AQI of 151.

However, several cities in the state showed variations in air quality across different areas on Thursday morning. Kanpur recorded a 'moderate' AQI in the range of 101-200, while Muzaffarnagar reported a poor AQI of 240. In contrast, Vrindavan recorded a good air quality with an AQI of 60, placing it in the 'satisfactory' category.

Meanwhile, the national capital Delhi witnessed a significant improvement in air quality on Thursday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 221 around 7 am. However, it remained in the 'poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Air quality improved sharply compared to Wednesday, when the AQI was over 300. Despite this improvement, a thin layer of smog persists in parts of the city, and overall air quality remains poor.

In Anand Vihar, a thin layer of smog lingered, although visibility was relatively clear, with an AQI of 292, placing it in the 'poor' category. Additionally, a thin layer of smog blanketed the areas around Dhaula Kuan, Akshardham, and India Gate this morning.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Moderate AQI in multiple UP cities during peak winter is actually a slight improvement from previous years. Shows some policies might be working, but we have a long way to go. Muzaffarnagar at 240 is concerning.
A
Aman W
Delhi's AQI improving from 300+ to 221 is good news, but 'poor' is still not acceptable for our capital. The smog layer around India Gate and Akshardham is worrying for tourists and residents alike.
S
Sarah B
Visiting Agra last week, the Taj Mahal was barely visible through the fog. It's sad that air quality affects our heritage sites so much. Hope the authorities are taking note.
V
Vikram M
Interesting that Vrindavan has 'good' air quality (AQI 60) while other cities struggle. What are they doing right? Maybe other cities can learn from their approach to managing pollution.
K
Karthik V
Respect to the devotees in Varanasi, but I hope the local administration is ensuring safety measures during these cold wave dips. Hypothermia is a real risk, especially for elderly pilgrims.

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