Severe cold wave conditions grip Delhi-NCR, schools shut; AQI slips to 'very poor'
PTC News Desk: Winter conditions intensified across Delhi and nearby regions on Wednesday, as cold-day weather, fog and poor air quality made the morning tough for residents of Delhi-NCR. Visibility dropped sharply in several areas, and the Air Quality Index stayed in the ‘very poor’ range, raising health worries.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said dense to very dense fog is likely in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and east Rajasthan, while Delhi can expect moderate to dense fog in the early hours of January 7 and 8.
Cold day conditions are expected at a few places in Delhi as well as in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The IMD reported cold wave conditions at isolated places in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, while some areas in Uttarakhand experienced ground frost.
In Delhi, the sky is forecast to remain partly cloudy for the next 24 hours, clear up for the following two days, and then turn generally cloudy again. Mist and haze are likely at night, with shallow to moderate fog expected in the mornings.
Air quality in Delhi-NCR continued to remain poor on January 7. Delhi recorded an AQI of 302, categorised as ‘very poor’. Other nearby cities also reported high pollution levels, with Ghaziabad at 317, Noida at 307, Gurugram at 295 and Faridabad at 219.
- With inputs from agencies
