Delhi's air quality worsens, cold wave alerts issued across regions
What's the story
Delhi's air quality deteriorated further on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the "severe" category in most areas, despite the implementation of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an AQI of 426 at Ashok Vihar at 8:00 am. On Friday, the 24-hour average AQI was 387, which is categorized as "very poor." Residents have complained of breathing difficulties and aggravated respiratory conditions due to the toxic air.
Pollution measures
Government's response to worsening air quality
In a bid to tackle the severe pollution, the Centre's air pollution control body is mulling over installing dust sensors on major roads in Delhi and neighboring NCR cities for monitoring road dust specifically. These sensors would give real-time data on dust levels, helping identify pollution hotspots for targeted road cleaning and enforcement measures. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched 50 electric buses and laid the foundation stone for an automated vehicle testing station (AVTS) in Tehkhand.
Weather forecast
IMD forecasts clear skies, issues cold wave alerts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted mainly clear skies with mist and haze at night for Delhi. The maximum temperature is likely to settle between 24°C and 26°C, while the minimum temperature may be around 10°C. The IMD has also issued severe cold-wave alerts for much of central India. While the north, west, and central regions prepare for cold-wave conditions with foggy mornings, southeast India is likely to witness rain and thunderstorms.