Delhi chokes on very poor air: Winters smoggy grip tightens for week
Forecasts indicate this hazardous winter pollution will persist, posing significant health risks. No immediate relief is expected, as meteorological conditions offer little dispersion.
New Delhi: Delhi residents are bracing for another week steeped in "very poor" air quality, as the city's battle against winter pollution shows no signs of relief. The capital's air quality index (AQI) logged a concerning 308 on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 4 PM data, following closely on Saturday's reading of 330, both firmly within the hazardous "very poor" classification.
This persistent pall over Delhi is a recurring narrative this winter, with the city having already endured three consecutive "severe" air days between November 11 and 13. Forecasts from the Centre's Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) paint a grim picture, indicating that the AQI is expected to remain resolutely in the "very poor" category throughout the coming week, stretching from December 8 to at least December 17.
For context, the CPCB categorises AQI as follows, 0-50 is "good," 51-100 "satisfactory," 101-200 "moderate," 201-300 "poor," 301-400 "very poor," and 401-500 "severe." Delhi's current state unequivocally places it in a health-damaging zone.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet, offered little hope for immediate relief, stating, "There will be no significant change in the AQI. It may improve when winds pick up briefly, but not enough for complete dispersion." This suggests that even minor meteorological shifts will be insufficient to clear the accumulated pollutants.
Adding a twist to the weather narrative, the city experienced a slight rise in its minimum temperature on Sunday. Influenced by a prevailing western disturbance, the mercury climbed to 8 degrees Celsius (°C). While still two notches below normal, this was an increase from Saturday's 6.8°C and a more significant jump from Friday's season-low of 5.6°C. The increased moisture in the air has led to partially cloudy skies, effectively trapping heat at night and contributing to these higher minimums.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that the minimum temperature will continue its upward trend on Monday, hovering between 9-11°C. A noticeable dip in temperatures is only expected from December 11 onwards, potentially reaching 6-8°C by Thursday and Friday. However, residents might experience a brief respite from stagnant air, as strong winds of 15-20 km/hr are forecast for parts of Monday. The maximum temperature on Sunday remained largely stable at 24.7°C, almost identical to the previous day's 24.6°C.
Earlier in December, Delhi had witnessed an unseasonably cold start, with the minimum plummeting to 5.7°C on December 1st – marking the coldest start to December since at least 2011. This was attributed to cold northwesterly winds sweeping in from the snow-capped mountains. While Delhi's minimum typically dips below 5°C, this usually occurs in the latter half of the month. Last December, the lowest recorded was 4.5°C (on the 12th and 16th), while 2023 saw 4.9°C (December 15). Previous years also saw significantly colder readings towards the end of December: 5°C in 2022 (December 26), 3.2°C in 2021 (December 20), 3.1°C in 2020 (December 31), and a chilly 2.4°C in 2019 (December 28).
As the capital oscillates between a slight warmth and the persistent cold, the overarching challenge remains its "very poor" air quality, casting a long shadow over the winter months for millions of Delhiites.