Air quality worsens to ‘severe’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 24

The air quality in the national capital worsened to the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday and cold day conditions persisted with temperatures dropping below normal.

Air quality was recorded at 409 at 4 pm, according to Central Pollution Control Board.

The sub-committee of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) met to take stock of the current air quality scenario and forecast of meteorological conditions as well as the projected air quality index by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

The panel had revoked Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on January 18 after the air quality improved.

“It was decided by the sub-committee unanimously to watch the situation for a day or more before considering invoking Stage-III of GRAP. The ongoing restrictive actions implemented under Stage-I and Stage-II of GRAP shall continue for the present. The sub-committee shall keep a close watch on the situation for further decision,” the panel stated. According to Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, the air quality is likely to be in ‘very poor’ category from January 25 to 27.

The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from variable directions in Delhi with wind speed of 4-8 kmph, with partly cloudy sky and moderate to dense fog in the morning on January 25, EWS forecasted.

The maximum dipped by two degrees from the normal, stabilising at 18.3°C and the minimum temperature was a degree above normal at 8.3°C.

Very light rain was observed on Wednesday in the wee hours and in the morning, moderate fog engulfed the city. Cold day conditions were observed in isolated places. Palam recorded the least maximum temperature — 4.6°C below normal at 15.6°C.

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