A bitter cold wave, and dense fog gripped Delhi-National Capital Region on Tuesday, with air quality plunging back into the “severe” category and drastically reducing visibility across the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 433 while the minimum temperature was 5.9 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal while the maximum temperature settled at 24.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal. The AQI was expected to remain in the ‘severe’ category for the next two days.
Of Delhi’s 35 monitoring stations, 28 recorded the air quality in the ‘severe’ category, with some breaching the 450 mark that is classified as ‘severe plus’. Monitoring stations in Mandir Marg, Jahangirpuri, Narela, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, ITO, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, DTU, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Mandir Marg, Pusa, Shadipur recorded the AQI in the ‘severe’ category.
The AQI was in the ‘severe plus’ category in Alipur, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Burari, CRRI Mathura Road, North Campus, Okhla Phase 2, Sirifort, Sonia Vihar and Vivek Vihar. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), meteorological conditions are likely to be unfavourable for effective dispersion of pollutants”.
The major source of Delhi’s pollution was vehicular emission, contributing 18.8 per cent of PM2.5. There was no contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s pollution as the season is over in Punjab and Haryana.PM2.5 remained the primary pollutant, with levels recorded at 252 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 pm.
Meanwhile, haze and cold wave conditions have caused severe disruption across the region. Thick fog enveloped various parts of the district, severely reduced visibility and created challenges for commuters. According to the IMD the national capital registered a minimum temperature of 4.5 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am, which later settled at an average of 5.9 degree Celsius. The temperature in certain areas of Delhi went even below 4.5 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Pusa was recorded at 3.5 degrees Celsius, while in Ayanagar, the minimum temperature was recorded at 4 degrees Celsius.At Najafgarh, the minimum temperature was slightly higher, at 6.2 degrees Celsius.
As temperatures dropped further and fog reduced visibility, the Delhi airport administration implemented low visibility procedures on Tuesday. Moderate fog reported at Safdarjung airport. Safdarjung airport recorded lowest visibility 350m at 8 am, which improved thereafter becoming 400m at 8.30 am. Palam airport recorded lowest visibility 600 m during 8 am hours to 9 am hours which improved thereafter becoming 700m at 9,30 am.
However, the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) authority clarified that flight operations were not affected by the current conditions. A passenger advisory was issued, urging travelers to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. “Low visibility procedures are in place at Delhi airport. Flight operations remain normal. Passengers are advised to contact their airline for updated flight details,” the airport administration posted on X.
Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR schools on Tuesday switched to the hybrid mode of conducting classes following the re-imposition of anti-pollution measures under the Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). According to the revised GRAP schedule, classes for students in grades VI-IX and XI in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar must operate in hybrid mode (physical and online) under Stage IV. However, students of class X and XII have to attend school in-person.
Delhi Traffic Police has ramped up vehicle checks in the national capital and the bordering areas after the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV was implemented here to curb the worsening air quality. According to a police source, 10 pickets will be installed at every district. These checkpoints will be responsible for imposing fines on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles for plying in the city.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert forecasting moderate fog and cold wave conditions in isolated areas across Delhi for the next three days. The IMD said, “Mainly calm winds prevailed over Delhi during the past 24 hours, bringing down visibility from 800 meters in shallow fog at Palam on Monday to 350 meters in moderate fog at Safdarjung on Tuesday morning.” It added that moderate fog conditions (visibility between 200m and 500m) are likely to persist in Delhi over the next two days due to the expected prevalence of calm or easterly surface winds.
The Centre’s air quality panel for Delhi-NCR on Monday imposed the strictest Stage-IV curbs under the winter air pollution control plan, including a ban on all construction activities, as the region’s air quality deteriorated to ‘severe’ due to unfavourable weather conditions. Stage IV curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for winters also include a ban on the entry of polluting trucks carrying non-essential goods into Delhi and mandatory shifting of school classes, except those for X and XII, to hybrid mode.
While most of the Northern states are expected to experience a cold wave and dense fog, southern states like Tamil Nadu are expected to receive rainfall amid the weather change. IMD has warned that the cold wave will persist and affect Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir over the next two days. Similar conditions are expected in Rajasthan from December 17 to 20.
