Delhi-NCR: Hit by triple crisis of cold, fog and pollution, AQI crosses 400, IMD issues warning

New Delhi, 22 December. The triple crisis of cold, fog and pollution is continuously deepening in Delhi-NCR. According to the latest data from the Meteorological Department (IMD) and pollution control agencies, the situation in the entire NCR including the capital Delhi remains very worrying. While dense fog along with cold has affected life, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed 400 in many areas and has been recorded in the ‘severe’ category.

According to the local weather forecast available on the website of the Meteorological Department, a warning has been issued of moderate to dense fog in the morning on 22 December. The maximum temperature recorded on this day was 21 degrees Celsius and the minimum was 9 degrees Celsius. The effect of fog is likely to continue on December 23, although it has been classified as ‘moderate fog’. The temperature on this day is expected to be 22 degrees maximum and 10 degrees minimum.

There are indications of a further drop in the temperature on December 24, where the maximum may be 19 degrees and the minimum may be 9 degrees Celsius. Talking about pollution, AQI has been recorded at dangerous levels in many areas of Delhi. The AQI was recorded around 404 in Anand Vihar, 408 in Bawana, 418 in Narela, 401 in Mundka, 400 in DTU and 380 in Punjabi Bagh.

AQI was recorded 386 in Okhla Phase-2, 394 in Nehru Nagar, 392 in Ashok Vihar and 391 in Alipore. AQI was recorded at 381 in Sector-1 of Noida, 335 in Sector-62 and 344 in Sector-116. At the same time, AQI has reached 313 in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, 341 in Sanjay Nagar and 394 in Vasundhara. These figures clearly show that the entire NCR is in the grip of pollution. In view of increasing pollution and bad weather, the administration has taken precautionary measures.

In Delhi, 50 percent employees have been allowed to work from home. Also, keeping in mind the health of the children, schools up to class five are being run in online mode, while classes from class six to 12 are being run in hybrid mode. According to the Meteorological Department, at present no major relief is expected from the weather in the coming days. Due to the lack of cool breezes and high humidity, both fog and pollution can persist.