New Delhi: In an unusual turn of weather for late March, residents of Delhi woke up on Saturday to a dense blanket of fog, a phenomenon rarely witnessed this time of the year. The early morning haze reduced visibility across several parts of the capital and extended to nearby regions such as Noida, creating a winter-like atmosphere.
The sudden dip in temperature has added to the anomaly, with the capital continuing to experience an unseasonably cool March. This shift comes just a day after the city recorded its lowest daytime temperature for the month in nearly six years, highlighting a stark departure from typical pre-summer conditions.
Visuals circulating from across the city captured thick fog engulfing prominent areas, including around Jama Masjid, where large gatherings assembled in the morning to offer prayers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Despite the reduced visibility, devotees turned up in significant numbers, adding a serene yet surreal touch to the fog-laden surroundings.
Alongside the unusual weather, Delhi’s air quality has shown notable improvement. At 8 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 94, placing it in the ‘satisfactory’ category. This follows Friday’s AQI reading of 93, marking the first instance in nearly five months that the city’s air quality fell within this cleaner bracket. The last such occurrence was noted on October 9 last year.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, conditions are expected to remain relatively stable, with air quality likely hovering in the ‘moderate’ range over the next couple of days, until March 23.
The rare combination of fog, lower temperatures, and improved air quality has made this March stand out, offering Delhiites an unexpected pause from the city’s usual early onset of summer.
