AQI Plummets To ‘Very Poor’, Capital Braces For Cold As IMD Predicts Light Rain News24 –

Delhi Pollution: The air quality in the national capital has dropped back to the ‘very poor’ category after remaining in the ‘poor’ category for the past two days. The AQI was recorded at 338 on Wednesday at 6 am. Light rain caused by Western Disturbance on 11 and 12 January had brought slight improvement in the AQI earlier. But, the AQI has slipped back to ‘very poor’ category again owing to unfavorable meteorological conditions.

The residents woke up to a layer of dense fog with reduced visibility.

#WATCH | Delhi | Visibility in the national capital is affected as a layer of dense fog engulfs the city

Visuals from Nirankari Colony pic.twitter.com/EPK03CGCH4

— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2025

AQI Across Delhi

Anand Vihar (417), Wazirpur (401), Rohini (393), Patparganj (384), Mundka (372), Mandir Marg (373), R K Puram (368), Ashok Vihar (371), Alipur (369), Pusa (349), Burari Crossing (350), ITO (338).

#WATCH | Delhi | A thin layer of fog blankets the national capital as cold wave grips the city.

(Visuals from New Delhi railway station) pic.twitter.com/pxs0ApsqBt

— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2025

#WATCH | Delhi | A thin layer of fog blankets parts of the national capital

Visuals from the Shankar Vihar – NH 48 pic.twitter.com/l7kjifnKHM

— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2025

Delhi Braces For Cold

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light rain or drizzle for Wednesday with minimum temperature dropping to 9 degrees Celsius. It has also issued yellow alert for ‘dense’ to ‘very dense’ fog. The maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are currently in the range of 15 to 19°C and 8 to 9°C respectively.

The deteriorating air quality level in the national capital can be attributed to foggy conditions and absence of strong winds. Fog worsens air quality by trapping pollutants close to the ground and preventing it from spreading.

Notably, following the improvement in AQI, the CAQM had withdrawn Stage-III restrictions on Sunday, which were reinstated on January 9, 2025, after the AQI breached the 350 mark.