NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air quality deteriorated further on Tuesday evening as the air quality index (AQI) slipped to the “very poor” category from the “poor” category in the morning hours.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app showed that the city’s AQI was 310 at 4 pm.
According to CPCB, 28 monitoring stations noted “very poor” AQI, 9 recorded “poor” AQI and one station registered “moderate” AQI. Meanwhile, Delhi recorded its first cold day of the year on Tuesday as maximum temperatures dipped sharply, bringing a noticeable chill to the national capital.
Similar conditions are likely to persist on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said maximum temperatures were observed in the range of 13 degrees Celsius to 16 degrees Celsius, with cold day conditions recorded at Palam and Lodhi Road.
According to the IMD, cold day conditions are declared when the maximum temperature remains 4.5 degrees Celsius to 6.4 degrees Celsius below normal.
The maximum temperature in the national capital on Tuesday was recorded at 15.7 degrees Celsius, which was 3.3 notches below the seasonal average, while the minimum temperature settled at 7.6 degrees Celsius, 0.7 notches above normal.
Station-wise data showed that the maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 15.7 degrees Celsius, 3.3 notches below normal, while Palam logged a maximum of 13 degrees Celsius, 5.7 notches below normal.
Lodhi Road recorded 15.8 degrees Celsius, 5.2 notches below normal, Ridge 14.9 degrees Celsius, 1.6 notches below normal, and Ayanagar 14 degrees Celsius, 2.9 notches below normal, the IMD said. The minimum temperature in the capital stood at 7.6 degrees Celsius.
Min temp at 7.6 °C
The minimum temperature in the capital stood at 7.6 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar, while Palam recorded 6.5 degrees Celsius
28 stations ‘very poor’
According to CPCB’s Sameer app, 28 monitoring stations noted “very poor” AQI, 9 were in the “poor” category, while one station registered “moderate” AQI