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New Delhi: Delhi on Sunday woke up to a thick layer of fog blanketing the city, as winter chills combined with high pollution levels severely reduced visibility. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 318, placing it in the “very poor” category.
The smog-laden conditions, coupled with biting cold, continued to persist across the national capital. 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 below normal. Earlier this week, Delhi recorded its lowest temperature of the season at 5.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that cold conditions are likely to intensify across North India until January 15. On Sunday, the minimum temperature in Delhi dipped further to 4.2 degrees Celsius, making daily travel difficult for commuters amid toxic air pollution and poor visibility.
Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were disrupted last week due to dense fog. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for smog, warning that reduced runway visibility could lead to flight delays. Passengers have been advised to check flight schedules on airline websites due to the prevailing severe weather conditions.
Along with rising pollution levels, the national capital continued to reel under harsh cold wave conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the minimum temperature in Delhi dropped to 5.4 degrees Celsius at 5:30 am 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 below the normal level. Earlier this week, Delhi recorded its lowest temperature of the season at 5.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning.
