New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Residents of the national capital woke up on Sunday to heavy haze as pollution intensified across the city, dragging air quality deeper into unhealthy territory. Official measurements indicated that Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index hovered close to the upper end of the scale, placing it firmly in the “very poor” range.
Data compiled by the Central Pollution Control Board revealed that several locations across the city recorded critically high pollution levels. Nearly twenty monitoring stations registered readings severe enough to raise health concerns, with eastern parts of Delhi among the worst affected. In some pockets, pollution crossed the 440 mark, highlighting the uneven but widespread nature of the smog episode.
Cold winter conditions added to the problem. The India Meteorological Department reported an early morning temperature of just over 6 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than normal for this time of year. High moisture levels in the air, combined with limited wind movement, created conditions that allowed pollutants to remain trapped near the surface.
The dense haze reduced visibility in several areas during the morning hours, disrupting routine travel and prompting health experts to advise caution, especially for children, the elderly and those with breathing ailments.
Weather officials expect daytime temperatures to rise gradually, reaching around 21 degrees Celsius, with relatively clear skies later in the day. However, environmental specialists caution that without significant changes in wind patterns, relief from pollution may remain temporary as winter progresses.
