Delhi records min temp of 10.2°C, AQI in ‘moderate’ category

Delhi: The city greeted a bright and sunny morning on Friday, with the minimum temperature dipping to 10.2 degrees Celsius—3.8 degrees below the seasonal average.

At 8:30 AM, the relative humidity stood at 63 percent, while the maximum temperature for the day is expected to reach around 30 degrees Celsius. The weather department has predicted a partly cloudy sky, with mist likely during the morning hours.

Northwesterly surface winds are expected to blow at a speed of 4-6 kmph in the morning, gradually picking up to 10-12 kmph by the afternoon, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Air quality in the city remained in the moderate category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 183 at 9 AM. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI levels between 101 and 200 fall in the moderate range, while anything above 200 is considered poor.

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A recent report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shed light on the severity of winter air pollution in India. Out of 238 cities monitored, 173 recorded PM2.5 levels exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit of 40 µg/m³. Alarmingly, no city met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m³, underscoring a widespread air pollution crisis.

Delhi emerged as the most polluted city this winter, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 159 µg/m³, the report revealed.

(With inputs from PTI)