Delhi air quality dips to 'very poor' as temperature continues to fall

A layer of fog engulfs India Gate and surrounding areas as the AQI drops to 270, categorised as 'Poor'.

Air quality in several parts of Delhi dipped to “very poor” on October 18 morning as temperature continues to fall in the national capital, even as the local government has called a meeting with all stakeholders to assess the situation.

In the morning, Delhi's Air Quality Index slipped to “very poor” in several parts with an overall “poor” AQI reading, as lower temperature makes it difficult for pollutants to disperse.

Mornings in Delhi and the rest of the National Capital Region are getting cooler and hazy as a mix of farm fires, vehicular emissions and dust pollute the air.

The weather department predicted clear skies for October 18, with the minimum temperature expected to drop to around 20 degrees Celsius.

A day earlier, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai announced new campaigns to monitor and control pollution across the city's 13 identified pollution hotspots. The initiatives would be led by the Green War Room, a control centre dedicated to overseeing pollution control measures.

"Special campaigns will be launched to monitor all 13 pollution hotspots through the Green War Room," Rai said..

#WATCH | Delhi: A layer of fog engulfs India Gate and surrounding areas as the AQI drops to 270, categorised as 'Poor'. pic.twitter.com/jpAAVUupX5

ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2024

The minister’s announcement came a day after the Supreme Court came down hard on Punjab and Haryana for falling to curb stubble burning and defying its order to act against those violation anti-pollution laws.

An emergency meeting of officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the transport department and Delhi Traffic Police will be held during the day to take stock of the situation.

This push follows the AAP government's Winter Action Plan, introduced in late September, which outlines 21 strategies to tackle seasonal pollution. Among the key measures already implemented are bio-decomposer spraying to manage crop stubble burning and an anti-dust campaign aimed at construction sites.

From October 19 to 22, Delhi’s is expected to have clear skies, with the maximum temperature hovering around 34 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures to be around 18 degrees.