National capital braves chill, gasps for breath

As winter sets in, a thick layer of smog enveloped Delhi on Friday morning. Though the city’s overall AQI showed a marginal improvement, several area slipped into ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ categories.

The average AQI settled at 369 on Friday as compared to 377 on Thursday. However, pollution levels in several parts of the Capital remained dangerously high.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed multiple stations reporting air quality index (AQI) above 400.

Localities such as Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Ashok Vihar and Wazirpur were among the worst hit. CPCB data showed that Ashok Nagar recorded an AQI of 417 and Bawana 413. Several other key locations such as Chandni Chowk (408), Jahangirpuri (420), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (401) and Burari Crossing (403) also remained in the ‘severe’ range. Parts of Noida, especially Sectors 116 and 125, recorded AQIs above 400, and Ghaziabad’s Loni too slipped into the severe zone.

Delhi also witnessed another cold morning as the minimum temperature settled at 8.1 degrees Celsius on Friday, as per the IMD.

Despite marginal improvements at a handful of stations earlier in the week, overall air quality continues to fluctuate, driven by low wind speeds, cool temperatures and high emissions from vehicles, construction activities and other winter-season contributors.