Delhi witnesses early morning rain and fog, air quality remains ‘very poor’ | Delhi News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Rain swept across various parts of the national capital on Friday morning, accompanied by a layer of fog covered the city, significantly reducing visibility.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded on Friday was 12 degrees Celsius, with the maximum temperature expected to reach 20 degrees Celsius.

The IMD has forecasted a “thunderstorm with rain” for Delhi on Friday and Saturday, suggesting more showers are likely over the weekend.
Deepak Pandey, a local resident, remarked, “The weather has turned beautiful; it feels like Kashmir. It is pleasant and ideal for travel. Although it is cold, the rain has helped reduce pollution levels.”
Read more: Weather Today Live Updates: Rain lashes Delhi-NCR, visibility reduced due to fog
Raman Kushwaha, a tourist from Madhya Pradesh, said, “It is chilly, and light rain has fallen, but it’s quite enjoyable for sightseeing in this weather. The pollution levels have also decreased.”
Images from Kartavya Path captured the light drizzle creating a refreshing atmosphere, paired with dense fog in the area.
Despite the improved weather, Delhi’s air quality remains in the ‘very poor’ category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 371 recorded at 7 am, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The AQI at various locations in Delhi stood as follows: Anand Vihar at 398, IGI Airport (T3) at 340, Aya Nagar at 360, Lodhi Road at 345, ITO at 380, Chandni Chowk at 315, and Punjabi Bagh at 386.
On Tuesday, the Central Government’s air quality monitoring panel revoked Stage IV (‘Severe+’) measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), following an improvement in air quality.
However, measures under Stages I, II, and III will remain in effect to prevent further degradation of air quality, announced the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on 24th December.
This decision was prompted by improved AQI levels in Delhi, attributed to favourable meteorological conditions such as increased wind speeds, according to forecasts from the IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
Stage IV measures were initially implemented on 16th December after AQI levels exceeded the 400 mark, in line with the Supreme Court’s directives. These measures aimed to address severe pollution levels and included restrictions on industrial operations, construction activities, and the entry of non-essential lorries into Delhi.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) comprises a series of emergency measures applied in Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution based on the severity of AQI levels.