Delhi’s air quality ‘severe’ at 442, temperature drops to 5 degrees Celsius | Delhi News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The air quality in the Delhi remained in the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday, with a layer of fog shrouding parts of the city and reducing visibility.
The minimum temperature in Delhi dropped to 5°C on Wednesday, compared to 7.4°C recorded at 2.30 am on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 442 at 7 am on Wednesday.
Several areas in Delhi recorded ‘severe’ AQI levels, including 458 at ITO, 471 at Alipur, 443 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, 432 at DTU, 418 at IGI Airport (T3), 464 at RK Puram, and 436 at DU North Campus.
Some locations, however, reported slightly better air quality, falling into the ‘very poor’ category. Chandni Chowk’s AQI was 374, Lodhi Road recorded 348, Dilshad Garden 344, and NSIT Dwarka 367.
As per the AQI scale, a score of 0-50 indicates good air quality, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 falls into the severe category.
Amid these conditions, Air Force personnel were seen practicing for the 78th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path.
Visitors and residents voiced their concerns about the worsening pollution. Avinash, who traveled from Maharashtra on his bike, shared his experience: “While heading towards Gurugram, I faced slight breathing difficulties due to the pollution,” he told ANI.
Delhi resident Bhagat Singh remarked that fewer people are venturing out for morning walks in parks, citing breathing problems caused by rising pollution levels. “The pollution has increased in the past two days, and people are struggling to breathe,” he said.
GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) Stage IV measures have been enforced across the NCR since December 16 after air quality plunged into the severe category.