New Delhi, Jan 14 (.) The national capital continued to reel under ‘very poor’ average air quality with an index value recorded at 353 on Wednesday, as people had no respite from the toxic air situation.
The air quality remaining in the ‘very poor’ category may cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, while the elderly, children and those already facing pulmonary issues, are likely to be more vulnerable in the situation.
On Wednesday, the places that registered highest AQI levels in Delhi include Nehru Nagar 415, Jahangirpuri 404, Pusa (DPCC) 401, Sirifort 398 and ITO 387.
According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), “the air quality is likely to be in the ‘Very Poor’ category from Thursday to Saturday.”
The civic agencies and the stakeholders involved in the pollution mitigation activities are observing the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi and NCR (CAQM), with inspections, enforcement and measures underway to curb pollution as part of the Graded Response Action Plan’s stage- II which is presently invoked across the Delhi- NCR.
Experts suggest that the presence of calm winds, and increase in the speed could help improve the AQI slightly.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s residents continued to witness cold weather amid the bad air scenario making it worst with the minimum temperature settling at 3.8 degrees C in the morning hours.
The weatherman has forecast cold wave conditions at isolated places on Thursday, while the sky will likely remain partly cloudy.
Moderate fog is expected at many places in the morning hours on Thursday, while dense fog at isolated places, the weather agency said.
The weather impact expected is that chilly winds may aggravate cold at times, and there could be mild health concern for vulnerable people.
As per the weather conditions, the Met department has suggested to avoid prolonged exposure to cold, and use of several layers of loose fitting, light weight warm clothing rather than one layer of a heavy cloth.
. APS PRP