Delhi rains clear dense fog, air quality moves to ‘poor’ after prolonged smog

New Delhi: Delhi and its adjacent cities- Noida and Ghaziabad experienced light rain on Saturday evening. The short spell of rain, much needed to break the streak of thick fog that had gripped the region for days, prevented this metropolis from coming to a grinding halt. Though the Indian Meteorological Department said that minimum temperature stayed at 7.7 degrees Celsius, maximum remained at 17 degrees Celsius, which was three degrees below average for the season. The IMD has predicted a partly cloudy sky with light rain on Sunday.

Weather conditions and daily life

The thick fog on Saturday affected the train schedules as at least 45 trains were reported to be delayed. The flight operations, however, were not much affected at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). The improvement in the visibility after the rain was seen as a welcome relief by commuters and travelers.

Air quality index improves

Delhi's air quality improved from the 'very poor' category to the 'poor' category on Sunday morning. According to the Centre's Sameer app, the total Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was clocked at around 285 5 a.m. An AQI between 201 and 300 falls within the 'poor' range, which depicts moderate health threats for sensitive categories. This would be some form of relief that the residents sought after several hazardous air conditions conditions over the preceding days.

Cold wave continues in North India

Even though there is some relief in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in North India have continued to see extreme winter. The temperatures across the region are said to be freezing, while the local meteorological department predicted snow in places like Shimla and Manali over the weekend. A fresh western disturbance will impact northwest India from January 14, and there will be light rain and snow in isolated areas.

Kashmir freezes under chillai kalan

The freezing temperature in Jammu and Kashmir has gone even higher as "Chillai Kalan" is being witnessed during the 40-day period. A tourist in Srinagar said, "We have been in Kashmir for the last 3-4 days. It is very cold here. The temperature is -3 degrees Celsius," referring to the frozen Dal Lake. The biting cold has added to the region's scenic charm but has posed challenges for locals and tourists.