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Delhi: Cold adds to Christmas vibes in city as minimum temperature drops to 9.1°C

December 24, 2023, 11:11 am

The national capital felt especially festive as the temperature dropped in anticipation of the year-end celebrations and the city’s Yuletide spirit. The national capital’s minimum temperature on Sunday fell to 9.1°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), even as locals awoke to a customarily chilly and foggy morning. The minimum temperature was 9.1°C, according to the Lodhi Road observatory. In the morning, images from Lodhi Road, Safdarjung Road, Jor Bagh, Sri Aurobindo Marg, and AIIMS revealed a dense layer of fog hanging overhead, with very few cars and commuters using the streets.

Earlier, on Saturday, the Palam observatory of the national capital recorded a minimum temperature of 14°C, while Safdarjung logged 12.2°C.
As the chill tightened its grip on the national capital, many were seen huddling around bonfires to keep themselves warm.
A few of the commuters said that the mercury fell significantly in the early hours of Saturday and that the cold was extreme.

A few foreign visitors in the city for medical care expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of adequate shelter houses in the capital. “We are forced to spend nights on open roads as there is no space in Rain Basera (a shelter home),” said a woman who identified herself as Nikhat Parveen. “People who have been living in these shelters for the past ten years have taken over, so we are not permitted to enter them. “Externals are not permitted,” a second individual said.

Meanwhile, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded in the ‘Very Poor’ range, at 8 am on Sunday, according to SAFAR-India (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research).
The national weather forecasting agency earlier said the minimum temperature across North India was likely to increase by 2-3 degrees Celsius over the next three days.

North India’s Deep Freeze: Dense Fog Causes Disruptions in Uttar Pradesh

December 23, 2023, 11:43 am

The icy grip of winter tightened its hold on Uttar Pradesh this Saturday, as Noida, Aligarh, and Ghaziabad were shrouded in dense fog, causing a further drop in mercury levels. Locals were spotted gathering around bonfires on the streets to seek respite from the chilling temperatures.

Simultaneously, the national capital experienced a drop in temperature, with Palam registering a minimum of 14°C, while Safdarjung recorded 12.2°C on Saturday. Residents engaging in cycling or morning walks expressed the severity of the cold, stating that the mercury plummeted significantly in the early hours.

“The extreme cold is making morning strolls more challenging for us. The combination of fog and pollution is exacerbating the difficulties faced by commuters and walkers. We find ourselves stepping outdoors wearing masks to counter health issues arising from pollution,” remarked a local to ANI on Saturday.

According to SAFAR-India (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was classified as ‘Very Poor’ at 8:07 am on Saturday. The foggy conditions and heightened pollution levels are posing health concerns for the residents.

In response to the prevailing weather conditions, the national weather forecasting agency has predicted a 2-3 degrees Celsius increase in the minimum temperature across North India in the next three days. As winter intensifies, residents are advised to take necessary precautions to cope with the challenging weather conditions.

National capital is embraced by the cold, minimum temperature at 7.8 degrees celsius

December 21, 2023, 1:36 pm

The minimum temperature in the nation’s capital, 7.8 degrees Celsius, was recorded on Thursday amid the bitter cold that pervaded the entire North Indian belt, according to the India Metrological Department (IMD). The national weather forecasting organization had earlier on Wednesday predicted that during the next three days, the minimum temperature in Northern India would probably rise by two to three degrees Celsius. Even though the temperature continued to drop on Thursday, fog covered the nation’s capital.

Amid the sharp chill, locals were spotted huddling around fires and sipping hot cups of tea at a roadside stall at New Delhi Railway Station.
Speaking on Thursday, Mahesh Kumar, an autorickshaw driver from Bihar, said the prevailing cold weather was affecting their daily chores.
“Passengers are few and far between these days because of the cold. The chill makes us stay put inside our vehicles for the better part of the day,” Kumar said, adding that they do most of their trips through the night till the crack of dawn when the cold is, perhaps, at its worst.
Another city resident, Muzamil, said, “We stepped out to binge on snacks and drink piping hot tea to keep ourselves warm. This is the only way to beat the cold.”
Junaid, a regular bus passenger, said, “I am here to take hot tea amid the bone-chilling cold in the national capital.”

No respite from hazardous air in Capital, as AQI in ‘very poor’ range

November 24, 2023, 11:43 am

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality in the nation’s capital remained in the “very poor” category on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings exceeding 350 in multiple locations. At 7:55 a.m. on Friday, the Capital’s overall AQI stood at 388. The national capital’s air quality did, however, slightly improve from the “severe” to the “very poor” category in a few areas, according to the pollution data released on Friday, but it was still dangerous for locals.

The AQI in the Pusa area was recorded at 403 as of 7.55 am while IIT Delhi logged an AQI of 579.
Further, the AQI in the Lodhi Road area was recorded at 359 while the Delhi University area and the Airport (Terminal-3) area recorded AQIs at 386 and 398 respectively.
According to data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Anand Vihar was at 411 while those in Alipur, Wazirpur and RK Puram were recorded in the ‘severe’ range at 432, 443, and 422 respectively.

A score of 0 represents “good,” 100 to 200 represents “moderate,” 200 to 300 represents “poor,” 300 to 400 represents “very poor,” and 400 to 500 or higher represents “severe” on the Air Quality Index. The AQI is a tool for clearly and concisely conveying to people the current state of the air quality. It reduces complex data on the quality of the air caused by different pollutants to a single number (the index value), color, and nomenclature.

Delhi’s AQI is still at 398 on Sunday morning, indicating “Very Poor” air quality

November 19, 2023, 9:53 am

With an air quality index (AQI) of 398, the National Capital’s “very poor” air quality persisted on Sunday morning. As of 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, Delhi’s air quality index was 398, meaning it was classified as “very poor” by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India). Anand Vihar’s AQI was 336 according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board that was recorded at 8 am. Analogously, the AQI was recorded at 363 at Alipur, 363 at ITO, and 371 at Bawana – all of which were classified as “extremely poor.”

Following a slight improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Saturday.
The decision was prompted by the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 319, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Although Stage IV restrictions were lifted, Stages I to III of the GRAP will persist in the entire NCR to prevent AQI levels from worsening to the ‘Severe’ category.
The CAQM, in a release, said that in view of the significant improvement in the average air quality of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee for operationalization of actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM and also take an appropriate call on the stringent actions under Stage-IV of GRAP already in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since November 5, 2023.

Delhi air pollution: Environment Minister Gopal Rai convenes a ministerial meeting today

November 9, 2023, 12:32 pm

As the city’s air quality remained in the severe category, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai called a meeting of all government ministers this afternoon to discuss possible actions.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the National Capital continues to be in the ‘severe’ category, as per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Toxic smog continued to persist over several parts of the city on Thursday morning.
As per the Office of the Environment Minister, the meeting will be attended by Finance and Revenue Minister Atishi, Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot, Social Welfare Minister Rajkumar Anand and Food and Supply Minister Imran Hussain.
The meeting will be held at the Delhi Secretariat at 12:30 p.m.

“In view of the serious situation of pollution in Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai called a meeting of all the ministers of Delhi,” officials said.

The System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India) released data showing that the AQI in Anand Vihar was 432 (severe category), and 453 (severe category) in the RK Puram area. While ITO is at 441 (severe category), Punjab Bagh’s air quality was measured at 444 (severe category).

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the hazardous air quality in the national capital and directed that farmers should stop stubble burning forthwith in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, saying it was one of the major contributors to air pollution.
It also observed that schemes like odd-even for vehicles to tackle pollution issues mere optics.

Delhi: Primary schools to remain closed till Nov 10 amid severe air pollution

November 5, 2023, 10:50 am

Primary schools in Delhi will stay closed until November 10 due to the deteriorating air quality, announced Education Minister Atishi on Sunday. The Minister of Education also disclosed that classes 6–12 might move to online learning.

“As pollution levels continue to remain high, primary schools in Delhi will stay closed till 10th November. For grades 6-12, schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes,” Atishi said in a post on X.
Earlier on Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared a holiday for all government and private primary schools in the national capital after the pollution levels plunged into the ‘Severe’ category.

According to the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), Delhi’s air quality stayed in the “Severe” category on Sunday for the fourth day in a row, despite a slight decrease in the overall Air Quality Index (AQI), which was recorded at 410 on Sunday as opposed to 504 on Saturday. SAFAR-India data indicates that the Delhi University area has 456 (Severe) air quality, while the Lodhi Road area has 385 (Very Poor) air quality. Similar circumstances were observed in Noida, where SAFAR-India reports that the air quality fell to the “severe” category with an AQI of 466.

Gurugram recorded an AQI of 392, keeping the air quality under the ‘Very Poor’ category.
According to doctors, for any healthy person, a recommended AQI should be less than 50, but these days the AQI has spiked beyond 400, which could prove fatal for those suffering from lung-related diseases and even pose a risk of lung cancer.

Delhi’s air quality declines; AQI ‘very poor’ for 3rd straight day this week

November 1, 2023, 9:36 am

For the fourth day in a row and the third this week, the national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 336 on Wednesday morning, placing the air quality in the “very poor” category.

As per the SAFAR-India, the city’s AQI has been in the ‘very poor’ category since Sunday (309).

According to information provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India, the AQI was recorded at 322 on Monday and 327 on Tuesday. Early morning strollers in the nation’s capital have reported that breathing is more difficult than it was during the summer.

“It feels a bit uncomfortable to breathe while running due to pollution now as compared to in the summer months. I face congestion. We need to remain careful and take all precautions,” said a morning walker near Mayur Vihar.
In the Delhi University area and Pusa, the quality of air was recorded as ‘very poor’ with AQI at 391 and 311, respectively at 7 am today.
The quality of air in the IIT Delhi region also remained in the very poor category with an AQI of 329. The quality of air at the Airport (T3) and Mathura Road was also in the very poor category, with an AQI of 339 and 362 respectively.
Meanwhile, Noida recorded an AQI of 391 (very poor) and Gurugram 323 (very poor).
Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand. It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature, and colour.

Mumbai’s air quality remains in ‘moderate’ category

October 27, 2023, 11:57 am

Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which was recorded at 105 on Friday morning, indicated that the city’s air quality was still classified as “moderate.” The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India) has released its most recent data, and it shows that Mumbai’s overall AQI was 105 (Moderate). With an AQI of 301, the air quality at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on Friday morning was rated as “very poor.” Similarly, Pune’s air quality on Friday was reported to be 47 (satisfactory). According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, the overall air quality in Delhi is still classified as “Poor,” with the Air Quality Index (AQI) being recorded at 249 on Friday morning.

Air quality in Delhi continues to remain in the ‘very poor’ category

October 24, 2023, 10:36 am

According to SAFAR-India, the national capital’s general air quality remained in the “very poor” category on Tuesday morning. The Delhi region’s overall Air Quality Index, at 303, fell into the “very poor” category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The AQI values for the Delhi University region and Pusa were 335 and 242, respectively, indicating “very poor” and “poor” air quality, respectively.

IIT Delhi breached the very poor category with an AQI of 306. The quality of air at the Airport (T3) was also in the very poor category, with an AQI of 313. The Mathura Road recorded 173 AQI, coming under the moderate category.
Meanwhile, Noida recorded an AQI of 308 (very poor) and Gurugram 249 (poor).
Earlier on Monday morning, the overall air quality in the national capital was recorded in the ‘very poor category’, with the AQI at 306.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool for effectively and understandably communicating to the public the state of the air quality. It reduces complex data on the quality of the air caused by different pollutants to a single number (the index value), color, and nomenclature. When the AQI is between 0 and 100, it is good; between 100 and 200, it is moderate; between 200 and 300, it is poor; between 300 and 400, it is considered extremely poor; and above 500, it is classified as severe. Additionally, scientist VK Soni of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Monday that although the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be implemented, there will be some improvement in the quality of the air.