The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Cold weather continued to grip the national capital on Friday, with the minimum temperature dropping to 5 degrees Celsius, even as light rain lashed parts of the city, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
A thick blanket of smog enveloped several areas, while air quality across Delhi remained in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ category, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed. The city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 280, placing it in the ‘poor’ category.
Several locations recorded significantly high pollution levels. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 385, falling in the ‘very poor’ category. Other areas with elevated AQI levels included Nehru Nagar (392), Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range (360), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (354), Dwarka Sector 8 (346), Jahangirpuri (340), Chandni Chowk (335), Ashok Vihar (328), ITO (307) and Ferozeshah Road (307).
Some areas registered relatively lower but still poor air quality. IGI Airport Terminal 3 recorded an AQI of 252, while similar readings were reported from Alipur (280), Aya Nagar (299), Bawana (276), Burari Crossing (278), CRRI Mathura Road (299) and DTU (289).
As per AQI standards, values between 201 and 300 are classified as ‘poor’, 301 to 400 as ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 as ‘severe’.
The IMD also forecast light rainfall at several locations, including Preet Vihar, ITO, India Gate, Akshardham, Safdarjung, Lodi Road, Nehru Stadium, Vasant Vihar, RK Puram, Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Vasant Kunj, Hauz Khas, Malviya Nagar, Kalkaji, Mehrauli, Tughlakabad, Chhattarpur, IGNOU, Aya Nagar and Deramandi.
Additionally, light intermittent rain or drizzle is likely at isolated places such as Mundaka, Paschim Vihar, Rajouri Garden, Buddha Jayanti Park, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rajeev Chowk, Jafarpur, Najafgarh, Dwarka, Delhi Cantonment and IGI Airport, the weather department said.
