As the clock chimed midnight, marking the advent of the highly anticipated year 2024, Delhiites were met with an unexpectedly mild onset to the new year. The city's minimum temperature stood at 10.1 degrees Celsius, marking a departure of three notches above the seasonal average, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The national capital was veiled in a layer of shallow fog, leading to varying degrees of reduced visibility for commuters and early risers. Safdarjung recorded the lowest visibility at 700 meters around 7 a.m., while Palam reported slightly better visibility at 1,100 meters during the same period.
Regrettably, the city's air quality persisted in the 'very poor' category. At Anand Vihar, the air quality entered the 'very poor' category, with PM 2.5 levels at 331 and PM 10 at 236, both falling under the 'poor' category. However, NO2 levels registered at 54 and CO levels at 74, indicating a 'satisfactory' status according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Similarly, Bawana station recorded PM 2.5 at 325, categorized as 'very poor,' while PM 10 levels reached 195, falling under the 'moderate' category. CO levels were noted at 50, deemed 'good.'
The AQI monitoring station at Dwarka Sector 8 revealed PM 2.5 at 373, categorized as 'very poor,' and PM 10 at 262, labeled as 'poor.' CO levels were registered at 46, considered 'good.'
At the ITO station, the AQI fell into the 'very poor' category, with PM 2.5 levels at 316 and PM 10 at 172, classified as 'moderate.' CO levels were recorded at 41, maintaining a 'good' level.
Furthermore, Okhla Phase-II reported PM 2.5 at 332, denoted as 'very poor,' while PM 10 levels stood at 202, classified as 'poor.'
(With Agency Inputs)
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