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New Delhi: Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) plummeted further into the 'severe' zone on Sunday. The national capital recorded the most polluted January day in the past 2 years, as the AQI stood at 440 at 4 pm on Sunday, showed the air monitoring stations. The AQI was 400 on Saturday, according to the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI higher than this, for January month was last recorded on January 14, 2024, when it had reached 447.
Experts said that poor AQI in Delhi in the second half of January is an unusual phenomenon. This is also the time when the AQI has been 400 or above during this time for 2 consecutive days since January-end in 2016.
A report in Hindustan Times, quoted scientists as saying that the poor air quality was mostly a result of slow low-surface level winds. They also blamed the poor AQI on a western disturbance, which has brought in moisture and leads to pollutants accumulating. They however also said that since GRAP measures were lifted earlier than usual, pollution levels rose up and AQI fell into the severe zone.
According to the COPCB, AQI is moderate, when it is between 100 to 200, poor when it is between 200 to 300, very poor when it is between 300 to 400 and severe when it is over 400.
According to the weather department, the weather conditions starting Monday may help clean up air. They have predicted rains for the entire Delhi-NCR. A yellow alert has been issued by the IMD for the region and they have also said that foggy conditions would prevail this week.
The day temperatures in Delhi-NCR are likely to reach 24 degrees Celsius, bringing some relief from the winter chill. The night temperatures however would be around 7 degrees Celsius. The weather department said that though temperatures might start rising from Monday onwards, dense fog is likely to prevail in the region both in the morning hours and at night. People have been asked to remain careful, especially while driving.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a weather bulletin till January 22 and said that there should not be any major changes in the weather patterns till then. This means that residents of Delhi-NCR can hope to get some relief from cold between January 19 to January 22. Post that however, the temperatures may fall and the chill might increase, said the IMD.
On January 23, the region might even experience rainfall. Skymet had said that a western disturbance is currently forming which might bring light rains to the national capital and the surrounding areas of Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram.
