Delhi-NCR Air Quality Slips Into ‘Very Poor’ Category As Cold Wave Persists

The air quality in Delhi-NCR deteriorated sharply on Friday morning, with several areas recording AQI levels in the Very poor category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

At 7 AM, Anand Vihar registered an AQI of 354. Other hotspots included Ashok Vihar at 367, ITO at 362, RK Puram at 374, Patparganj at 372, Wazirpur at 374, Chandni Chowk at 370, and Dwarka Sector 8 at 369.

AQI readings between 301 and 400 are classified as ‘very poor’ and may cause respiratory illnesses with prolonged exposure.

The AQI scale categorises 0–50 as ‘good’, 51–100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 as ‘moderate’, 201–300 as ‘poor’, 301–400 as ‘very poor’ and 401–500 as ‘severe’.

The spike in pollution coincided with cold wave conditions over the national capital.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported minimum temperatures well below normal for mid-January, with some areas dipping to 3 degrees Celsius and parts of the city around 5.4 degrees Celsius.

Dense fog reduced visibility in the early morning, further affecting travel. The IMD warned that cold wave conditions are very likely at isolated places across Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh, with pockets experiencing persistent cold day conditions.

The sky is expected to remain mainly clear during the day, becoming partly cloudy towards evening.

The adverse weather also disrupted operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Authorities operated flights under CAT III conditions due to dense fog, which could cause delays.

They urged passengers to check with airlines, while ground staff assisted travellers across terminals.

Health experts have cautioned residents, particularly children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor activities until air quality improves.

Also Read: Delhi-NCR Gripped By Severe Cold Wave As AQI Slips Into ‘Very Poor’ And ‘Severe’ Zones