New Delhi:
Delhi-NCR woke up to a dense foggy morning on Sunday and the air quality levels were recorded in the poor category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. There was near-zero visibility and several train and flight operations were affected because of this. The minimum temperature settled at 9.4 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average. The maximum temperature was forecast to be 19 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year, a meteorological department official said.
On Sunday, the pollution level was recorded in the 'very poor' category after light rains slowed dispersion of pollutants and worsened the pollution situation in the national capital.
Major pollutants PM 2.5 at 222 and PM 10 at 229, both in 'Poor' category in Lodhi Road area, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data.
Delhi: Major pollutants PM 2.5 at 222 and PM 10 at 229, both in 'Poor' category in Lodhi Road area, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data. pic.twitter.com/T6gMvXe09X
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2019
Low-cost carrier Spicejet had on Saturday tweeted that flight operations could be affected due to bad weather on Sunday.
#WeatherUpdate – 3rd Feb'19- Due to expected bad weather during morning hours at Delhi (DEL), Varanasi (VNS), Patna (PAT). Srinagar (SXR), Pakyong (PYG), Tuticorin (TCR), Pondicherry (PNY), Jabalpur (JLR), Bhopal (BHO), Shirdi (SAG), Jaisalmer (JSA) & Dharamshala (DHM). (1/2)
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) February 2, 2019
All departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might get affected. The passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via https://t.co/iQhxtfUMuL. (2/2)
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) February 2, 2019
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and between 401 and 500 'severe'. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Greater Noida and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality while Gurgaon, recorded 'poor' air quality, the CPCB data showed.
"This is a typical scenario when a little shower becomes a stumbling block for dispersion of pollutants in spite of not-so-calm surface wind conditions, by introducing a huge amount of moisture to make air heavy with drops in temperature, a situation that causes difficulty for dispersion. this process is balancing the air pollution level and keeping it consistently in the lower end of very poor range," the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said.
