Duststorm chokes Delhi: Air Quality near ‘very poor’ mark; IMD predicts rain and thunderstorms for relief
PTC Web Desk: Delhi continued to struggle with worsening air quality on Friday, as dust-laden winds from the Thar Desert region kept pollution levels hovering near the "very poor" category for the second consecutive day. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 297 at 9 AM — firmly in the “poor” zone — following a marginal rise from 292 recorded at 4 PM on Thursday.
Overnight surface winds stirred up significant amounts of dust, severely impacting visibility and increasing concentrations of particulate matter across the city. A dense haze covered the capital for nearly 12 hours between late Wednesday night and Thursday morning, reducing visibility from 4,500 metre to just 1,200 metre by midnight.
According to data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, PM10 concentrations — the coarse particulate matter that can enter the lungs and trigger respiratory issues — spiked to dangerous levels. In Najafgarh, hourly PM10 levels peaked at a staggering 2,969 µg/m³, nearly 30 times the 24-hour safe limit of 100 µg/m³.
Experts attribute the spike in pollution to strong winds of 30-40 km/h generated by a sharp north-south pressure gradient over northwest India. These winds carried large amounts of desert dust from Rajasthan through Haryana and Punjab into Delhi, deteriorating air quality overnight.
While the minimum temperature on Friday was recorded at 26.2°C — slightly below the seasonal average — the mercury is expected to climb to 40-42°C during the day.
Meteorological forecasts, however, offer a glimmer of hope. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a shift in weather patterns that could help alleviate the pollution. “There is a likelihood of very light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h. During the thunderstorm, winds may even touch 50 km/h by evening or night,” an IMD official said.
Another IMD source noted that similar weather conditions could persist into Saturday morning, bringing chances of scattered rain, thunderstorms, and high wind speeds that could help disperse suspended dust particles.
Health experts continue to warn residents — especially those with respiratory conditions — to limit outdoor activity until air quality improves, as prolonged exposure to high PM10 levels can lead to breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and cardiovascular stress.
- With inputs from agencies
