Frosty Mornings Grip Delhi as AQI Slips to 'Poor' Category; IGI Airport Issues Passenger Advisory
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A cold wave continues to grip north India, with Delhi residents waking up to chilly mornings. The minimum temperature in the city plummeted to 4.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with moderate fog covering the region. Although the air quality index (AQI) improved to the 'poor' category, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport issued an advisory for passengers due to fog and cold wave conditions. On Saturday, Delhi experienced its coldest morning of the season, with a temperature of 4.2 degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees Celsius lower than usual. However, the air quality worsened, reaching the higher end of the 'very poor' category. According to the Sameer app, the air quality index stood at 346 on Saturday. On Sunday, Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 4.8 degrees Celsius, while a thin layer of smog reduced visibility in several parts of the city. Several areas in the capital were colder than the city average, leading the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to announce cold wave conditions at isolated locations. The Regional Meteorological Centre forecast clear skies throughout the day, along with cold wave conditions in isolated areas and moderate fog during the morning hours. Cold wave conditions are expected to continue across parts of north and northwest India, including the Delhi-NCR region, over the next few days. Delhi's AQI improved to the 'poor' category on Sunday, registering an air quality index of 290 as of 10:05 am. However, several areas in the city continued to record air quality index levels above 300, placing them in the 'very poor' range. Nehru Nagar recorded the highest pollution level at 348, followed by Anand Vihar (338), Jahangirpuri (337), and Pusa (335). The IGI airport advisory stated that low visibility procedures were in progress, but all flight operations were normal. Passengers were advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates.
