Breaking News : Delhi Weather Update: Chilled Morning, Fog Delays Trains, and Persistent Air Quality Issues - January 2024

Delhi's Weather Update: Chilled Morning, Reduced Visibility, and Persistent Air Quality Concerns

Delhi, on Tuesday, experienced a minimum temperature of 6.1 degrees Celsius, slightly below the seasonal average, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The forecast indicates that the maximum temperature in the national capital is expected to hover around 18 degrees Celsius.

A notable factor affecting the region was the presence of dense fog, leading to reduced visibility at key locations. Delhi-Palam witnessed visibility dropping from 200 meters at 7 a.m. to 250 meters at 9:30 a.m., while Safdarjung reported visibility at 500 meters during the same period. This had repercussions on the transportation sector, with 28 trains reported running behind schedule by one to three hours, according to information provided by Indian Railways.

Furthermore, the air quality in Delhi remained a cause for concern, with several monitoring stations recording levels in the 'very poor' category. In the Anand Vihar area, at 9 a.m., PM2.5 levels were documented at 344, categorizing it as 'very poor,' while PM10 levels reached 235, falling into the 'poor' range, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The Air Quality Index (AQI), a crucial measure of air quality, indicated that the air in various parts of the city was persistently classified as 'very poor.' The AQI categorizes air quality levels as follows: 0-50 ('good'), 51-100 ('satisfactory'), 101-200 ('moderate'), 201-300 ('poor'), 301-400 ('very poor'), and 401-500 ('severe').

At the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) Terminal 3, PM2.5 levels were reported at 209, while PM10 levels stood at 121, placing them in the 'poor' and 'moderate' categories, respectively.

In summary, Delhi experienced a chilly morning with temperatures below the seasonal norm, coupled with reduced visibility due to fog. The persistent 'very poor' air quality, as indicated by the AQI, underscores the ongoing challenge of air pollution in the city, necessitating continued efforts to address and mitigate environmental concerns.