New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Residents of the national capital experienced a noticeably cooler morning today, but the relief brought by the weather was overshadowed by a persistent decline in air quality.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded a minimum temperature of 18.4°C — a notch below the usual average for this period. The day is expected to warm up to around 33°C, while humidity levels stood at 74% early in the morning, adding a slight heaviness to the otherwise pleasant start.
Despite the favorable weather, Delhi’s air pollution levels remained a point of concern. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) marked the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) at 241, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. This level of pollution can pose health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues.
For context, the CPCB categorizes AQI values as follows: 0–50 as ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and anything above 400 as ‘severe’.
Environmental experts suggest that cooler temperatures and lower wind speeds could be contributing to the accumulation of pollutants in the atmosphere. As winter approaches and agricultural burning begins in neighboring states, air quality is expected to worsen further unless immediate mitigation steps are taken.
Health advisories have been issued, urging residents to minimize outdoor activities during high pollution hours and to use protective gear like N95 masks if necessary.
With the festive season approaching and weather conditions ripe for pollution build-up, Delhi authorities are likely to step up monitoring and introduce measures aimed at curbing emissions in the days ahead.
