Delhi: Winter tightened its hold on the national capital on Friday, with the minimum temperature dropping to around 5 degrees Celsius and light rain reported from several parts of the city, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The chilly conditions were accompanied by dense smog in many neighbourhoods, further worsening air quality levels. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that pollution remained a major concern across Delhi, with overall air quality hovering in the “poor” to “very poor” range.
According to CPCB figures, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 280, placing it in the “poor” category. Several monitoring stations reported significantly higher pollution levels. Anand Vihar emerged as one of the worst-affected areas with an AQI of 385, falling under the “very poor” bracket. Other pollution hotspots included Nehru Nagar at 392, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range at 360, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 354, Dwarka Sector 8 at 346, Jahangirpuri at 340 and Chandni Chowk at 335. ITO and Ferozeshah Road both logged AQI readings of 307, while Ashok Vihar stood at 328.
Some locations, however, recorded relatively lower — though still unhealthy — pollution levels. IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 reported an AQI of 252. Similar readings were observed in Alipur (280), Bawana (276), Burari Crossing (278), DTU (289), CRRI Mathura Road (299) and Aya Nagar (299).
Under the AQI scale, values between 201 and 300 are classified as “poor,” while readings from 301 to 400 fall into the “very poor” category, posing health risks, especially for vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, the IMD forecast light rainfall at several places across the capital. Areas likely to receive showers include Preet Vihar, ITO, India Gate, Akshardham, Safdarjung, Lodi Road, Nehru Stadium, RK Puram, Vasant Vihar, Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Khas, Malviya Nagar, Kalkaji, Mehrauli, Tughlakabad, Chhattarpur, Vasant Kunj, IGNOU, Aya Nagar and Deramandi.
The weather department also indicated the possibility of intermittent drizzle at isolated locations such as Mundaka, Paschim Vihar, Rajouri Garden, Buddha Jayanti Park, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rajeev Chowk, Najafgarh, Jafarpur, Dwarka, Delhi Cantonment and the IGI Airport area.
Meteorologists said the combination of low temperatures, moisture in the air and stagnant winds is likely to keep both the cold and pollution levels in check over the next few days, urging residents to take precautions, especially during early morning and late evening hours.
