New Delhi: On January 12, light rain fell in Delhi and surrounding areas, resulting in a drop in the Air Quality Index (AQI) to ‘poor’ levels by Sunday morning. This rain also provided some relief from the dense fog that had persisted in the National Capital Region (NCR) for several days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi recorded a low of 7.7 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of 17 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which is three degrees below the seasonal average. The fog caused delays for at least 45 trains, although flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) remained largely unaffected.
The AQI, which had been fluctuating between ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ levels recently, improved to a reading of 285 around 5 a.m. on Sunday. The IMD has forecasted a generally cloudy sky with light rain for Sunday as well.
In northern India, cold wave conditions persist, particularly in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, where temperatures have dipped below freezing. The local meteorological department has predicted moderate rain in the low-lying plains and snowfall in higher elevations, including Shimla and Manali, over the weekend.
A new western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India starting the night of January 14, 2025, bringing more light rain and snow to isolated areas in the coming days.
In response to the air pollution crisis, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stages I, II, and III are currently in effect in Delhi. Following a sharp rise in the AQI, reaching 357 on January 9 due to stagnant winds and fog, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage III measures on January 11. The CAQM has urged all relevant agencies to monitor the situation closely and enhance their efforts to prevent further deterioration of air quality.